Research Publications

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/4194

This main community comprises five sub-communities, each representing the academic contribution made by SLIIT-affiliated personnel.

Browse

Filters

20252

Advanced Search

Filter by

Settings

Subject: search.filters.subject.RAPD markers

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Correlation between molecular diversity and biochemical traits of edible aerial parts of Basella alba L. from different geographical locations of Sri Lanka
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2025-12-29) Dahanayaka, L. W.; Mapa, M. M. S. T; Kadigamuwa, C.C; Udayanga, D
    Background: Basella alba L. a widely consumed green leafy vegetable, exhibits considerable nutritional and therapeutic potential attributed to its bioactive constituents. Prior investigations revealed significant variation in phytochemical and antioxidant activity across agro-climatic zones in Sri Lanka, suggesting potential genetic influence. This study is designed to explore underlying genetic variation using RAPD markers to investigate the correlations and contributions of genotype on previously reported bioactivity variation. Results: From a screening of 15 RAPD primers, four primers (OPA 9, OPA 10, OPA 16, and OPB 10) produced, polymorphic, consistent and clearly scorable banding profiles (under optimized PCR conditions) in B. alba L. collected from 15 Sri Lankan locations. These primers collectively yielded 36 bands, 35 of which were polymorphic, resulting in a high polymorphism rate of 97.2%, confirming the informativeness of the selected primers for genetic diversity analysis. Genetic similarity was assessed using Jaccard’s coefficient in NTSYSpc.v2·10e, revealing values ranging from 0.44 to 0.97, with the highest similarity from the samples from Ratnapura and Kandy and the lowest similarity in Ratnapura and Kalutara. A dendrogram constructed via UPGMA grouped the samples into two major clusters and five sub-clusters, demonstrating substantial genetic differentiation influenced by geographic origin. Cluster I included Ratnapura and Kandy, while the remaining samples formed Cluster II and its subgroups, each representing different ecological zones. When compared to the phytochemical and antioxidant clustering data of the previous study, partial correspondence was observed. A Mantel test comparing genetic diversity and biochemical/antioxidant potential revealed a weak negative correlation which was not significantly different. Some of the locations within similar genetic cluster shared similar biochemical traits, while others diverged significantly, indicating that environmental conditions also influence bioactive compound synthesis. Notably, Cluster I (Ratnapura and Kandy) showed both genetic similarity and lower antioxidant traits. Samples from Ella and Polonnaruwa showed similar bioactive traits even though they were grouped into different genetic clusters. Conclusion: These findings suggest that both genetic makeup and environmental adaptation contribute to observed biochemical diversity in B. alba L. with a clear geographical correlation. This study highlights the value of integrating molecular and biochemical analyses to develop regionally adapted B. alba L. cultivars with enhanced nutritional traits, supporting sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka and beyond.
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Detection of Polymorphism in Ethyl Methyl Sulfonate Treated Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A.Chev. mutants using RAPD markers
    (Department of Applied Sciences. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Kondapperuma, C.; Hewagamage, H.; Pieris, S. E.
    Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Chev. is an ornamental plant with significant horticultural value but limited genetic diversity, which constrains breeding for improved traits. This study aimed to generate and evaluate genetic and morphological variation in C. fruticosa using Ethyl Methyl Sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. In-vitro plantlets were exposed to EMS at concentrations of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%, for 10 minutes and their growth was monitored over nine weeks. Key morphological parameters, includingplant height, leaf number, and leaf pigmentation, were recorded to assess the impact of EMS treatment. Genomic DNA was extracted from treated and control plants, and genetic variation was evaluated using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The results demonstrated that EMS induced concentration-dependent changes in plant morphology, with 1% EMS producing the greatest reduction in plant height and leaf number, as well as lighter leaf pigmentation. RAPD analysis revealed increasedgenetic polymorphism in EMS-treated groups compared to the control, with the highest level observed in the 1% EMS treatment. Cluster analysis further confirmed the genetic divergence between treated and control plants. These findings indicate that EMS mutagenesis, particularly at lower concentrations, is effective in generating both morphological and genetic diversity in C. fruticosa. The study provides a foundation for future breeding programs aiming to enhance the ornamental and adaptive traits of thisspecies through targeted mutation breeding.