Evaluation of the Genetic Fidelity of <i>In-Vitro</i> Raised Plants of <i>Nardostachys jatamansi</i> (D.Don) dc. (Valerianaceae) using ISSR Markers

Abstract

Genetic fidelity analysis of in vitro established N. jatamansi plants has been carried out. Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) marker was used to assess the genetic fidelity of tissue culture products with the mother plant. Among 17 ISSR primers screened, nine produced clear, reproducible and scorable bands. A total of 26 distinct bands in the size range of 200 to 2900 bp were produced. Most of the banding profiles from micropropagated plants were monomorphic and similar to those of the control plant, however few samples produced polymorphic bands also. The percentage of polymorphic bands in the ISSR analysis was 11.53%. The genetic similarity was calculated on the basis of ISSR data among the selected plant materials which ranged from 0.93 to 1.00 (mean = 0.965). The similarity coefficient by ISSR analysis revealed that differences between tissue culture raised plants and mother plant was not remarkable, thus ascertaining the true nature of the in vitro raised plants. This study is likely to suggest an alternate method for large scale production carried forward with an in situ participatory approach which will thereby enhance the germplasm conservation. In future, with this approach N. jatamansi is likely to become a potent ethnomedicine in the pharma industry.