Geographic pattern of variation among Asian native rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) based on fifteen isozyme loci

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Abstract
The geographic pattern of isozyme variation among rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) in Asia is described based on an electrophoretic survey of 1688 accessions for 15 loci. The distribution patterns are strongly determined by the existence of several varietal groups that are characterized by contrasting multilocus types with dissimilar environmental and macrogeographic distributions. The two main groups correspond to the indica and japonica subspecies. Other types are frequently found in the Indian subcontinent, especially along the Himalayan foothills. These types are predominant in the Indus River basin. They are differentiated into four groups in the eastern part of the Himalayan foothills. There is variation within the groups. Non-random allele distributions are observed, such as regional clines and narrow localization of alleles. Diversity among indica rice is evenly distributed in whole tropical Asia. Variation among japonica rice shows the hilly part of continental Southeast Asia to be the region of highest genetic diversity and its probable area of origin. All this information provides a guide for further analysis aimed at elucidating the history of cultivated rice in Asia and, subsequently, in other continents.Key words: Asian rice, genetic diversity, isozymes, geographic distributions.