Mankar, AbhayKumari, Abha2017-02-182017-02-182016-07http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810001527Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is an economically important fruit tree of family Sapindaceae and native to southern China. Evaluation and characterization provide a rapid, reliable and efficient tool of information to exploit genetic variability and to augment the utilization of germplasm, but differentiation of cultivars through morphological features is inefficient and inaccurate. Hence, molecular markers with support of morphological analysis have been allowed to solve the problem of cultivar identification and analysis of genetic diversity. Keeping this information in mind, the present investigation was framed with objectives (i) Characterization of litchi hybrids by using morphological and biochemical analysis. (ii) Genetic Diversity analysis of litchi hybrids using molecular marker. The study was accomplished by using 18 hybrid litchi in horticulture garden, BAC, Sabour, during 2014-15.The morphological analysis revealed that sufficient genetic variability was present among the hybrids which provide ample scope for selection of promising hybrids under study. D2 cluster analysis grouped the eighteen hybrids into 5 clusters. The inter and intra cluster distance between the hybrids under study indicate the existence of higher level of genetic divergence among themselves. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster II (comprising of H-104, H-141(W), H-503) and cluster V (comprising of H-580, H-711), whereas, intra cluster distance in cluster III (comprising of H- 141(E), H-517, H-140, H-573) which suggest that selection of promising hybrids of these clusters may lead to creation of variability. H-515 was concluded as superior hybrid among all hybrids in term of fruit weight (26.27 g), aril weight (18.78 g), fruit length (35.60 mm), fruit diameter (35.21mm), aril percentage (71.20%), aril seed ratio (5.46). Hybrid H-104 was found best in term of TSS (22.000 Brix). Morphological traits are not always good indicators of the genotype. Moreover, there is widespread confusion over the identities of litchi cultivars that have been identified only by their morphological traits. Hence, Identification through only morphological characters may lead to unreliable determination due to environment influence. So, Genetic fidelity and similarity within hybrid litchi were investigated using SSR (simple sequence repeat) and RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) markers. SSR markers studied reflected no polymorphism whereas Sixteen RAPD, resulting in amplification of 71 reproducible polymorphic fragments products. The percentage of polymorphism for RAPD was 68.93%.Range of similarity coefficient varies from 0.506-0.922. H-104 and H-141(W) appears to be very similar both morphologically and genetically whereas two hybrid litchi (H-524 and H-580) were found to be genetically very distant from the other. However molecular analysis revealed very narrow genetic diversity among the hybrids of litchi which concludes that diversity observed through morphological analysis may be influenced by the environmental factors.ennullThesis