Abstract

This study was conducted to describe an efficient micropropagation protocol suitable for the production of clonally uniform Yucca plants through the shoot tip and lateral bud explants and compare the application and utility of TRAP and SRAP marker techniques for analysis of genetic diversity among six genetically Yucca diverse genotypes. The results indicatedthat the “Green” cultivar gave the significantly highest average mean value of primary and secondary shoot number (2.02 and 3.21/explant, respectively). Medium protocol B containing MS medium + 0.2 mg/l of NAA+ 4.0 mg/l of BAP significantly gave the highest mean value for shoot multiplication derived from primary and secondary cultures (1.63 and 2.96/explant, respectively). The lateral bud explant derived propagules from the primary and secondary culture was the most effective for shoot multiplication. Molecular markers tools (SRAP and TRAP) analysis were used for detecting polymorphism among six genetically Yucca diverse genotypes. Cluster analysis using SRAP data grouped the 6 Yuccagenotypes into two main clusters with Jaccard’s similarity coefficient ranging from 0.40 to 0.64. The dendrogram generated from TRAP data clearly indicated two main clusters with similarity coefficient ranging from 0.40 to 0.92. SRAP and TRAP data were combined to produce a dendrogram and the similarity coefficient among the six Yucca genotypes varied from 0.39 to 0.75.

Key words: Clonal propagation, SRAP markers, tissue culture, TRAP markers, Yucca elephantipes.