Genetic divergence in Tunisian castor bean genotypes based on trap markers

In the present study, the representatives of the genus Ricinus communis collected from 12 different parts of Tunisia were differentiated by the DNA fingerprinting patterns using 30 TRAP primers. The efficacy of the TRAP technique in this study is further supported by the obtained PIC values of the primers used in the analysis. PCR amplification of DNA using 30 primers for TRAP analysis produced 490 DNA fragments that could be scored in all 56 genotypes of Tunisian castor. The number of amplified fragments varied from 3 (TRAP 04 x arb 1, TRAP 22 x arb 3 and TRAP 23 x arb 3) to 13 (TRAP 56 x arb 2), and the amplicon size ranged from 100 to 1600 bp. Of the 490 amplified bands, 377 were polymorphic, with an average of 5.71 polymorphic bands per primer. To determine the level of polymorphism in the analysed group of Tunisian castor genotypes polymorphic information content (PIC) was calculated. The lowest values of polymorphic information content were recorded for TRAP 10 x arb 1 (0.555) and the highest PIC values were detected for TRAP 44 x arb 2 (0.961) with an average of 0.770. A dendrogram was constructed from a genetic distance matrix based on profiles of the 30 TRAP primers using the unweighted pair-group method with the arithmetic average (UPGMA). According to analysis, the collection of 56 Tunisian castor genotypes were clustered into five main clusters. Moreover, functional TRAP markers would be efficiently useful in genetic studies for castor genetic improvement.

Evaluation of genetic diversity of edible honeysuckle monitored by RAPD in relation to bioactive substances

The aim of this study was clarifying the relation between genetic diversity of edible honeysuckle (Lonicera kamtschatica) and the major group of biologically active substances as total polyphenols content (TPC) including antioxidant activity (AO). Fruits of edible honeysuckle becomes more and more popular, especially in Europe. The current status of research on polyphenolic compounds in the berries of edible honeysuckle and their biological effects, including recommended utilization, are reviewed.The biological material including 14 cultivars of the edible honeysuckle (´Zoluška´, ´Amfora´, ´Pruhonický 44´, ´Vasilijevsky´, ´Moskovskaja´, ´Vojtek´, ´Sinoglaska´, ´Altaj´, ´Lipnická´, ´Kamčadalka´, ´Sinaja Ptica´, ´Fialka´, ´Modrý Triumf´, and ´Leningradský velikán´) originated from Czech republic (Žabcice near Brno). The content of TPC and AO were determined by location and its soil-climatic conditions and these environmental circumstances determines the RAPD profiles of analysed honeysuckle acessions, too. DPPH method was used to analyze AO and Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to determine TPC. The results of experiment showed that the highest value of AO was determined at the cultivars ´Zoluška´ (81.04 mg.L-1) and the lowest was measured in ´Kamčadalka´ (54.122 mg.L-1).  On the contrary, the highest content of TPC was determined at the cultivar ´Kamčadalka´ (51.09 mg.L-1) and the lowest value was measured at the cultivar ´Pruhonický 44´ (21.65 mg.L-1). Phylogenetic trees were similar in genetic distance. The  content of TPC and AO were  not statistically significant in relation to cultivar. The analyzed cultivars of the edible honeysuckle were separated in 4 clusters according to used primers. In both  gel images, the amplicon size ranged from 100 to 1,500 bp. We found that genetic diversity was partially related to content of total polyphenolic substances and antioxidant activity. Based on phylogenetic trees we have stated that variety ´Lipnická´, ´Sinoglaska´, ´Altaj´, ´Leningradský velikán´, ´Modrý Triumf´, ´Sinaja Ptica´ and ´Kamčadalka´ were grouped in the similar cluster. The highest genetic distance was determined at the variety ´Vasilijevskaja´ and ´Amfora´. In the same way, there were variety ´Vojtek´, ´Fialka´ and ´Zoluška´.