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Assessing the genetic diversity for miniaturization of crop collections to form mini core collection will lead to greater utilization of germplasm to
develop improved crop cultivars along with effective maintenance of it. It has become vital to perform this for traditional Rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties
when considering the arising demand for their qualities. This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity of twenty ‗Pachchaperumal‘ traditional
Rice accessions with two control varieties Bg360 and ‗Suwandal‘ Rice, conserved at the Seed Genebank of Plant Genetic Resources Center,
Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka. Morphological analysis was done using seven standard seed morphological descriptors of Rice and, Molecular analysis was
done using 16 SSR primers. Statistical analysis was done for morphological and molecular data using MINITAB 15 and POPGENE 1.31 softwares
respectively. Strategy of bulking accessions was tested in this study relying on seed morphological clustering and those bulks were used in the
molecular analysis. Results revealed a significant degree of genetic diversity among tested accessions both morphologically and molecularly, and
molecular results were more contributive. Two distinct accessions were identified as potential off types of ‗Pachchaperumal‘, accession numbers 3752
and 5547. Cluster analysis based on morphological traits generated seven major clusters at 1.62 relative distance. Depending on the pattern of
clustering, ten bulks were formed. The molecular analysis based on bulks, generated five clusters in a relative genetic distance of 9.0. Eleven
accessions were distinguished as representative set out of all 20 accessions and according to passport data 3 of them were Bg accessions, 5550, 5549
and 5546.
