Genetic diversity among 20 wheat genotypes/cultivars from diverse locations of Pakistan was studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A total of 445 DNA fragments were amplified with 50 random decamer primers 64.38% of which were polymorphic. Genetic similarity matrix based on Nei & Li's (1979) index detected coefficients ranging from 75.60% to 92.74%. These coefficients were used to construct a dendrogram using unweighted pair group of arithmetic means (UPGMA). The wheat genotypes were clustered into one major group (A) and two small groups (B and C). The most distant genotype in the dendrogram was PARC-1 that was 75.60% to 84.94% genetically similar with the other genotypes and clustered with PARC-3 which formed a group distantly related with the other clusters. Moreover, most of the wheat genotypes developed from the same breeding centre clustered in one group. It has been clearly shown that most of the cultivars except PARC-1 possessed narrow genetic background. The information would be helpful for future genome mapping programs as well as for the application of intellectual breeder rights in the country. The study will also work as indicator for wheat breeders to evolve varieties with diverse genetic background to achieve sustainability in wheat production in the country.
