Genetic Diversity in Pentapetes phoenicea and Malachra capitata Assessed Through RAPD Analysis

Pentapetes phoenicea is grown from seed. It does not self-pollinate. Pentapetes (Indomalayan) is one of the medicinal and poisonous Sterculiads of the world (Caius J. F. , 1989). Malachra capitata is found in hotter parts of India where it has become naturalised. It is also used as a medicinal plant. The genetic diversity of two plants, Pentapetes phoenicea and Malachra capitata is studied with the help of RAPD genetic markers and the evaluation of banding pattern was carried out by similarity and distance matrix computed with Jaccard coefficient matrix. The developed phenogram using unweighted pair group method with average (UPGMA) cluster analysis also suggested the two plants species are diverse plants.