Authors:Ramanayake, S.M.S.D; Meemaduma, V.N; Weerawardene, T.E
Abstract:The potential of bamboos as a wood substitute has resulted in an increase in their replanting and cultivation. The selection of useful species or varieties requires an understanding of the heterogeneity within populations. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to study the genetic diversity within a population of Dendrocalamus giganteus and Ochlandra stridula in Sri Lanka. D. giganteus, introduced as a single plant to Sri Lanka in 1856, showed a relatively low genetic diversity of 0.092 ± 0.027 Although seeding in this species is rare, seed-raised plants showed the highest genetic distances and contributed significantly to the genetic diversity. The species is mainly propagated vegetatively and the presence of groups of individuals with no polymorphism indicated clones. O. stridula, an endemic annually flowering species, showed a relatively higher mean genetic distance of 0.446 ± 0.210.
Keywords:Dendrocalamlls gigamells, Ochlandra stridula, RAPD, genetic distance