DNA Fingerprinting of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Cultivars Using Microsatellite Markers (Report‪)‬

Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa L.) (2n=24) belonging to the family Graminae and subfamily Orazoidea is the staple food for one third world's population and occupies almost one-fifth to the total land area covered under cereals. It is grown under diverse cultural conditions and over wide geographical range. Most of the world's rice is cultivated and consumed in Asia, which constitutes more than half of the global population. Approximately 11% of the world's arable land is planted annually to rice, and it ranks next to wheat. Further scope of crop improvement depends on the conserved use of genetic variability and diversity in plant breeding programme and use of new biotechnological tools. There is wide genetic variability available in rice among and between landraces leaving a wide scope for future crop improvement.