Molecular Characterization of Basella alba L. and Basella rubra L. using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Profiling

The limitation of morphological characterization in revealing genetic variation in species has been the predisposition of most quantitative characters and some qualitative characters to environmental influences. This has necessitated the use of molecular methods in the characterization of species in the recent time. This study was designed to examine and characterize Basella alba and Basella rubra using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) profiling in order to provide useful information that could enhance the elucidation of their taxonomic status. Genomic DNA of fresh leaf samples of the two species were isolated and subsequently subjected to RAPD analysis by scoring for presence (1) or absence (0) of bands. Monomorphic and polymorphic bands were identified, number of amplified alleles determined, percentage polymorphism established, genetic diversity and genetic distance were calculated. The study revealed 123 individual fragments obtained from the 11 primers used, with 112 (91.06%) of the fragments being monomorphic, with 11 being polymorphic. The genetic variation between the species studied was 8.94%, while the genetic distance was 0.21. The results obtained indicated that the Basella alba and Basella rubra studied were quite close genetically, thus suggesting that there could be a possibility of gene flow between them.