Use of RAPD marker to confirm mutation in morphological variants on Neem tree

Abstract

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) is commercially valuable medicinal plant studied for molecular analysis. In the present study, a morphological variant of neem was observed near our department. The leaf pattern was abnormal (crimpled or curly) morphologically observed and was against normal leaves. This curly leaves containing neem tree considered as mutant against normal. It was considered as either environmental/ chemical influence or certain variation that might lead to mutation in plant genome. To confirm mutation, in this experimentation, this morphological analysis was confirmed by molecular analysis. For that, the genomic DNA was extracted from both the plants and subjected to RAPD analysis. The morphological variants were shown distinct variation in DNA pattern by selected primers. Thus, RAPD profile proves that there was mutation in plant genome. This result supports the initiative to utilize morphological variants in plant breeding applications, and DNA fingerprinting.

Keywords

• Neem
• mutation analysis
• RAPD marker