TITLE	Genetic variation in the intergenic spacer of ribosomal DNA of Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. var. major (Cogongrass) populations in Taiwan
AUTHOR	Chang-Hung Chou Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan Chi-Chu Tsai Graduate Institute of Botany, National Taiwan University, Taipei 107, Taiwan
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ABSTRACT	Genetic variation in the intergenic spacer (IGS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repetitive sequences in inter- and intra-specific populations of Cogongrass [Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. var. major (Nees) Hubb] in Taiwan, was studied by employing PCR-amplified RFLP analysis. Each IGS region of 45 individuals from 15 populations was amplified using a pair of complementary primers to conserved regions in the 5`end of 17S and 3'end of 25S rRNA genes. Five IGS length variants were found at 2,730 bp, 2,830 bp, 2,930 bp, 3,030 bp and 3,130 bp. Of them, 2930 bp was the main type of IGS length of Cogongrass in Taiwan. Within an individual Cogongrass, one to two IGS length types were distinguished. Those samples amplified by PCR were digested with 13 restriction enzymes, and 283 bands were revealed. Of them, 248 bands were polymorphic. Clustering analysis was conducted based on data obtained from bands distributed in all samples mentioned, and two major clusters were found. The Chuwei population was distinctly different from the remaining populations. Moreover, the findings of the PCR-amplified RFLP analysis also indicated that the IGS region of rDNA provides a good genetic marker and a potential tool for the study of microevolutionary process.
KEYWORD	Cogongrass; IGS; Imperata cylindrica; PCR-amplified RFLP; rDNA;
ARTICLE INFO	Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica, Volume 40 Number 4 October 1999, page 319-327, 9 pages
PUBLISHER	Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China