Classification of <I>Loropetalum chinense</I> var. <I>rubrum</I> based on AFLP analysis

Abstract

22 Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum were subjected to fluorescent AFLP(amplified fragment length polymorphism) analysis and its classification of variation types and kinship were investigated. Eight primer combinations selected from 64 primer combinations produced a total of 1 226 strips, of which 1 085 were polymorphic with a polymorphism percentage of 88.5%. The polymorphism percentage of Dongyanzihong, Dayuanyeshuanmianhong are 100%, their homology were the lowest. An UPGMA dendrogram based on the AFLP alleles showed that genetic similarity coefficients among Loropetalum chinense species was between 0.744 8 and 0.920 7. All the materials were divided into 6 groups with the threshold of 0.817 1 of similarity coefficient. At the same time, the first group was divided into 4 subgroups with the threshold of 0.848 4 of similarity coefficient. The AFLP result showed that Dongyanhong including 5 types, only Dongyanmeihong, Dongyanlianghong, Dongyanjuanbanmei was grouped together as the morphologic markers classified, the genetic differences of Dongyanzihong and Dongyanjuanbanhong could be appraised by the molecular marker from the other 3 types. The AFLP result also showed that Dayuanyeshuanmianhong was not grouped together with Dayemeihong, Dayehong, Dayejuanbanhong and Dayehong as the morphologic markers classified. Thus, tyey have morphological similarity but presented great differences in the genetic distance. Compared with morphologic markers, the classification system based on AFLP markers could reflect relationship Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum cultivars more efficiently.