International Journal of
Biodiversity and Conservation

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-243X
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJBC
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 679

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic diversity among Asparagus species and cultivars of Asparagus officinalis L. using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Muhammad Irshad
  • Muhammad Irshad
  • Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Kohat, Pakistan
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Muhammad Idrees
  • Muhammad Idrees
  • Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat university of Science and Technology (KUST). Kohat, Pakistan
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Anwar Saeed
  • Anwar Saeed
  • Department of Biotechnology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan
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Muhammad
  • Muhammad
  • Centre of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
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Rehan Naeem*
  • Rehan Naeem*
  • Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat university of Science and Technology (KUST). Kohat, Pakistan.
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  •  Received: 15 March 2014
  •  Accepted: 14 April 2014
  •  Published: 28 May 2014

Abstract

The species of Asparagus are very important as they are used for ornamental, vegetable and medicinal purposes since ancient time. In the present study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to evaluate genetic diversity among nine species of Asparagus and six cultivars of Asparagus officinalis L. RAPD analysis using seven random oligonucleotide primers yielded a total amplification of 245 bands, among which 220 (89.80%) were polymorphic with an average of 31.4 bands per primers. Highest number of 39 (97.50%) polymorphic bands were obtained with primer OPC-07, while minimum polymorphic bands were 18 (69.23%) with primers OPA-01. Genetic similarity coefficient ranged from 0.75 to 0.96 with an average of 0.85. Phenogram clustered all Asparagus species and A. officinalis L. cultivars into two clear clusters. One cluster comprised of all cultivars of A. officinalis L. while the second cluster comprised of all the Asparagus species. The present study reveals that RAPD markers were more convincing for analyzing genetic diversity among Asparagus species and cultivars of A. officinalis L.

Key words: Asparagus officinalis L., genetic diversity, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Phenogram.