Genetic polymorphism analysis of somatic embryo-derived plantlets of Cymbopogon flexuosus through RAPD assay

The genetic status of somatic embryo-derived plantlets of Cymbopogon flexuosus was examined by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Auxins such as 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) (1-4 mg/l) were used in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium for induction of calli from rhizomatous explants of Cymbopogon flexuosus. Optimum calli were induced on MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) (3.5 mg/l) alone or in combination with $N^6-benzyladenine$ (2 mg/l). Somatic embryogenesis was achieved from long term calli when cultured on MS medium containing 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) (2 mg/l) along with $N^6-benzyladenine$ (BA) (1-2 mg/l). Regeneration was achieved when freshly induced embryogenic calli were sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with $N^6-benzyladenine$ (3 mg/l) alone. Long-term cultured embryos showed profuse minute rooting on regeneration medium supplemented with N6 -benzyladenine (3 mg/l). Microshoots were rooted in the presence of indole-butyric acid (IBA) (2 mg/l). DNA samples from the mother plant and 18 randomly selected regenerated plants from a single callus were subjected to RAPD analysis with 6 arbitrary decamer primers for the selection of putative somaclones. A total of 64 band positions were scored, out of which 19 RAPD bands were polymorphic. From genetic similarity coefficient based on RAPD band data sharing, it was found that the majority of the clones were almost identical or more than 92% similar to the mother plant, except CL2 and CL9 (66%) which showed highest degree of genetic change with CL2 and CL9 showing presence of two non-parental bands each.