Abstract:
Purpose: Genetic makers are indispensable in the genetic quantifi cation and characterization of plant
species of which rubber tree is no exception. Markers have been used severally in genetic identifi cation
and diversity analysis of rubber tree species. However, in Ghana genetic diversity and relatedness
among introduced rubber tree species are limited. The study is aimed to use microsatellite markers to
assess the genetic variability and evaluate genetic relationships among clones of Hevea brasiliensis
cultivated in Ghana.
Research Method: Genomic DNA was extracted from fresh rubber leaves following the Cetyltrimethyl
Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) protocol. The fi ve (5) diff erent SSR primers used for the analysis were
hmct1, hmac4, hmct5, gSSR212 and gSSR194.
Findings: The fi ve SSR markers showed some degree of relatedness among the rubber clones which
suggested genetic similarity (IRCA317-5, IRCA41-2, IRCA331-6, IRCA230-4, IRCA109-3, and B8-23)
and diversity (K2-18, IRCA840-7, PB217-8, PB217-10, and IRCA317-16) among the clones irrespective
of their geographical area of collection.
Research Limitation: The unavailability of polivinylpolipyrolidon (PVPP) and polyacrylamide gel
(PAGE).
Original Value: The results from the study depict that relatively some rubber clones of interest could be
selected for future breeding and propagation programmes in Ghana.
