MOLECULAR VARIATION IN CUCUMIS MELO AS REVEALED BY ISOENZYME AND RAPD MARKERS

Isoenzymes and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were used to assess the genetic diversity of melon Cucumis melo. Five cultivars Cucumis melo Ideal, Vicar, Regal, Primal and C-8 Rafigal were analyzed for esterase (EST), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), peroxidase (PRX) and acid phosphatase (Aph). The highest similarity index values were detected between cvs. Primal and Regal (S.I. 93). The DNA fingerprints and the DNA polymorphism for C. melo cultivars were obtained with three primer (OPA-4, OPA-13, OPA-16). A total of 22 amplification products (bands) were generated using three primers for the characterization of five C. melo cultivars. The highest index values were detected between C-8 Rafigal and Regal (S.I 77.8%). DNA fingerprint dendogram divided the C. melo cultivars into Cluster A and B with similarity index 58 %. In conclusion, the isoenzyme analysis of C. melo indicated that Regal had highest similarity to Primal, C-8 Rafigal and Ideal, while RAPD variation suggests that C-8 Rafigal and Regal had only the highest similarity.