Genetic diversity among 40 accessions (Coffea canephora) of robusta coffee genepool available in India was determined in comparison with 14 representative samples from a C. canephora core collection and three accessions of C. congensis, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. Both these molecular approaches were able to generate unique fingerprints for each of the accessions analysed. All the 12 SSR primers used in the present study were found polymorphic, with an average of six alleles per primer pair. Comparative analysis revealed the higher amount of diversity in representatives from a core collection than in the Indian genepool. Moreover, a total of 205 polymorphic AFLP bands were scored in all the 57 accessions analysed. The genetic relationship among 57 accessions was compared on the basis of SSR and AFLP polymorphisms. Genetic similarity dendrograms showed high correlation between the two marker systems. This study clearly established the high amount of diversity present in core samples, which is not represented in Indian genepool. Furthermore, the three accessions of C. congensis did not exhibit any significant diversity from other robusta accessions supporting the school of thought that C. congensis forms a biotype of C. canephora. The potential use of SSRs and AFLP markers in genetic diversity analysis for better ex situ management and also for exploitation of diversity in breeding programmes is discussed.

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