International Journal of Bio-Technology and Research (IJBTR) ISSN 2249-6858 Vol. 3, Issue 4, Oct 2013, 1-16 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd. AGRO- MORPHOLOGICAL AND RAPD MARKER BASED CHARACTERIZATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY IN DIFFERENT GENOTYPES OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA L. DUNAL SUNITA KHATAK 1 , SANTOSH DHILLON 2 , OM PRAKASH YADAV 3 , ANITA GREWAL 4 & RAM NIWAS SHEOKAND 5 1,4 Department of Biotechnology, University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India 2 Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, C.C.S.H.A.U, Hisar, Haryana, India 3 Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Section, C.C.S.H.A.U, Hisar, Haryana, India 5 Department of Computer Science, Computer Section, C.C.S.H.A.U, Hisar, Haryana, India ABSTRACT Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an industrially important plant for production of glycowithanolides consisting of sitoindusides VII to X and withaferin ‘A’. In the present study thirty genotypes of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal also known as Ashwagandha were collected from three different states of India and genetic diversity analysis was carried out using agro morphological characters and RAPD markers. Data obtained was used to determine the component trait variation, magnitude of correlation between root yield and quality traits along with path coefficient during kharif season. A high magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for root length, plant height, and seed yield per plant. Heritability in broad sense and genetic advance were found to be moderate to high and highly significant positive correlation was observed between root yield and plant height followed by root length. Path analysis revealed direct contribution of plant height followed by root length for root yield. Sixty two RAPD primers were screened out of which, 46 primers showed amplification. Forty two out of the forty six primers showed 87.28 per cent polymorphism. In total 236 bands were obtained of which 206 were polymorphic. Estimates of genetic similarity ranged from 0.18 to 0.90 showing a wide genetic base. The genotypes collected from different locations did not formed well defined distinct clusters and were interspersed with each other and was further supported by morphological results. Molecular markers in combination with morphological traits could be potential source for Ashwangandha improvement as the roots of the plant associated with rejuvenation makes it medicinally important. KEYWORDS: RAPD, Path Coefficient, Heritability, Polymorphism, Cluster Analysis, Agromorphological INTRODUCTION Out of a large number of medicinal plants known in present scenario, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (family Solanaceae) commonly known as Ashwagandha or Asgandh finds extensive use as a medicinal herb in the traditional system of medicine as a rasayana and medhya rasayana extends back over 3000 to 4000 years (Atal et al.,1961). It is also known as winter cherry, Indian ginseng and is an important small woody shrub that grows upto 30 to 50 cm in height (maximum of 150 cm), usually clothed with whitish stellate hairs, leaves are ovate, entire and thin up to 10 cm long. Roots and leaf extracts of W. somnifera indicates that it possesses anti-inflammatory, antitumour, antistress, antioxidant , immunomodulatory properties, (Bhattacharya et al., 2006; Padmavati et al., 2005; Rasool et al., 2000). It is an ingredient in many formulations prescribed for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions e.g., arthritis, rheumatism, used as a general tonic