Genetic Diversity Analysis of Medicinal Plant Cassia alata in Andaman Island through ISSR Markers

Cassia alata is one of the important medicinal plants which are traditionally used to treat skin infections. It is also being used as antihelmintic, antibacterial, diuretic and laxative. The leaves of C. alata are used as an effective treatment against ringworm and also against other skin diseases such as eczema and chronic skin impurities. The local people of the Andaman and Nicobar Island use this medicinal plant Cassia alata L. against centipede bites and instant relief from joint and muscle pains. Wide variability was observed in this species and is distributed throughout the Islands. In the present study, genetic diversity among 29 different accessions of Cassia alata collected from different parts of South Andaman were studied using ISSR marker. A set of seven ISSR primers were taken for DNA fingerprinting, among them 5 ISSR primers produced194 clear and prominent bands with 61% homology. The maximum discriminating bands obtained from primer ISSR 7 and ISSR 9. Cluster analysis of ISSR divided into two clusters. An assessment of genetic diversity among species would assist in planning for future germplasm collection, conservation and domestication programmes.