Identification of AFLP markers to recognize the pod spininess in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Abstract

Association between AFLP markers and pod spininess in 21 landrace of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) was investigated. Six hundred AFLP bands were scored across all landraces. The polymorphism of AFLP bands were analyzed among landraces differing in pod spine existence, the significance level of frequency of band (presence and absence in the two groups) was calculated by Fishers exact test. Two reproducible AFLP bands, 187 bp and 220 bp, were present in significantly higher frequencies in landraces with pod spininess compared with other landraces lacking pod spines (p???0.01). These two markers were generated from single AFLP primer combination (Mse-CAT and Eco-ACT). The detected markertrait associations will provide the platform towards better understanding of the molecular basis for pod spine existence in okra.