Genetic variability studies on Mussaenda species variation among five Mussaenda species detected by random amplified polymorphic DNA

DNA was isolated from fresh leaves of five Mussaenda cultivars to study the genomic relation among them. Genomic relationship was evaluated using 21 random polymorphic DNA markers. Among the 21-decamer primers only 7 primers amplified 12 monomorphic loci. The primer OPM01 has maximum resolution power, while the primer OPQ04 has maximum RAPD primer index. Dendrogram based on the basis SHAN clustering showed two clearcut groups containing M. leuteola in an isolated clade. The two varieties of M. erythrophylla are coming under same group indicating their close association at the molecular level. Among the 193 amplified loci 181 loci were polymorphic DNA and 65 bands are exclusive amplified only in particular individual. But there were no marker band for the species M. erythrophylla ‘Rosea’. One interesting outcome of the investigation is the closeness of M. philipicaca ‘Aurorea’ with M. erythrophylla ‘Gining Imelda’. It had similarity value 84% but the two varieties of M. erythrophylla were related at 56% similarity level.