RAPD Difference Analysis between Red and Green Stem Plants of Sarcococca ruscifolia

Purpose The difference of total DNA between red stem plants and the green ones of Sarcococca ruscifolia was studied in order to understand the molecular basis controlling stem color.

Methods The mixed DNA template was amplified with a total of 200 RAPD primers of 10 bp, and the primers which had polymorphic bands were screened by 14 red stem plants and 14 green ones. The differential bands were retrieve, sequenced and analysed.

Results Forty-three of primers were polymorphic in 28 DNA samples, 8 of which could produce different bands in most of red and green stem plants. Three specific primers, C06, M09 and N10, could stably produce 7 distinct bands, of which band C06-350 appeared in all red stem plants, but was absent from all green ones. The sequencing result of the C06-350 showed that the sequence size was 352-381 bp and no homologous nucleotide or amino acid sequence was matched in NCBI database.

Conclusion The genetic material of the red stem type had changed indeed compared with the green one, and C06-350 was a marker closely related to the characteristics of the red stem.