Paper Title
Molecular Characterization of Genetic Variability in Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia L.) using SSR Markers

Abstract
The present investigation on molecular characterization of genetic variability in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)” using 22 SSR markers was carried out in the NAIP laboratory, Department Of Vegetable Science, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. Pair wise similarity matrix based on Jaccard’s coefficient for 8 parents and selected F1’s of bitter gourd based on morphological performance of genotypes related to yield attributes is was carried out. The similarity value ranged from 59% to 94%. The minimum similarity value recorded between 5 and 8 i.e 0.59. The UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) analysis was done and dendogram was constructed using Jaccard’s similarity matrix of SSR markers involving data generated out of three polymorphic primers and was depicted in fig. 4.5.1.1. Twenty five genotypes were classified into six main clusters. Cluster I comprised four genotypes with 0.94% similarity among themselves. Cluster II & III were having three genotypes, cluster IV and V with five genotypes and cluster VI with four genotypes. Between genotypes US33 and VNR28×PK1 and MC84×PK3 & US33×PK3 similarity was found 100%. VNR28×MC84 exhibited least similarity with any of the genotypes 0.59%, hence was not kept in any cluster.