Comparative assessment of genetic variability in Cryptolepis Buchananii,Tylophora Hirsuta and Wattakaka Volubilis

Asclepiadaceae is an economically important family with great medicinal value. however,very little work has been carried out on the genetic variability of asclepiadaceae members especially on some medicinally important species like tylophora hirsuta,wattakaka volubilis and cryptolepis buchananii. keeping in view the importance of these species,a study was designed to explore the genetic diversity of these 3 species of asclepiadaceae and the plant material was collected from quaid-i-azam university campus,islamabad. to assess the genetic variability and polymorphism among these species,randomly amplified polymorphic dna (rapd) markers were used. sixty rapd primers from opa,opc,opf and opg series were used; only 8 primers of opc series gave amplification. maximum polymorphism at inter specific and intra specific levels was shown by opc9 and minimum polymorphism was observed in opc5. the data was analyzed using ntsys software pc version 2.02. low genetic diversification was observed at intra specific and inter specific level. moreover,during cluster analysis tylophora hirsuta and wattakaka volubilis were found to be present in the same cluster showing a close relationship whereas cryptolepis buchananii appeared in a separate cluster.