Analysis of Genetic Diversity through Leaf Trichome Characters and RAPD Markers in Two Species of Dendrocalamus

Abstract

Traditionally, phenotypic characters or protein profiling were used to establish the genetic relationships or for identification purpose of species. In recent times, DNA profiling is done using various molecular techniques. Analysis of micro-morphological characters can be used as preliminary tool as compared to phenotypic characters. Present study is an approach to find out the intra-generic and intra-specific relationship based on micromorphological and RAPD analysis in Dendrocalamus spp. For micromorphological analysis, observations on trichomes were recorded on both the surfaces of leaves. Total five genotypes, Dendrocalamus asper (mother and micropropagated plant) and D. strictus (seed raised three cultivars from various locations) were included in the study. Both the samples of D. asper showed close similarity on the basis of presence and size of trichomes (371.07 - 1019.17 μm) on the lower surface (abaxial) and being present in the same subcluster for all the seven primers tested out of total nine. However, one primer (B17899) gave no amplification whereas, OPB4 divided the genotypes in to three clusters-cluster I (sample 2), cluster II (sample 1) and cluster III (sample 3, 4 and 5). Out of three samples of D. strictus, one sample showed characteristically very large trichomes (1189.3 - 2166.61 μm) and was in different cluster by the primers OPE1, OPD1, OPA12 and A17898.