Assessment of genetic diversity of Canthium parviflorum Lam by RAPD and ISSR markers

Canthium parviflorum Lam is an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional systems of medicine with propagation limitations. In the present work, we are reporting the genetic diversity analysis of naturally occurring and in vitro grown plants by RAPD and ISSR markers. The plants developed on MS medium supplemented with BA (2mg/l) and NAA (0.5mg/l) using nodal and leaf explants were used along with plants present in five different geographical areas. Genetic diversity analysis using DNA based markers, RAPD and ISSR indicated that considerable genetic variations are present in naturally occurring plants. It is also indicated that tissue culture plants and their wild relatives show genetic similarity by grouping into one clad. The amplification products of the regenerated plants showed similar banding patterns to that of the mother plant thus demonstrating the homogeneity of the micropropagated plants. The variations observed in naturally occurring plants could be due to the impact of local environmental factors and accumulation of mutations in the course of evolution. This is the first report on genetic diversity of Canthium plant populations.