RAPD Analysis For Genetic Relationship And Diversity Of Tripterygium

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. , which belongs to the genus of Tripterygium (Celastraceae), is a perennial vine growing in south China. Its dry xylem of root and rhizome has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, fever and carbuncles. It has been shown that Triptergium has potent anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immunosuppressive activity. In fact, there are 2 other species, Tripterygium regelii Sprague et Takeda and Tripterygium hypoglaucum (Lévl.) Hutch, distribute in China according to Flora of China (Chinese edition). Both of them have same or similar contents just like those in T. wilfordii. T. hypoglaucum not only has its own preparations but also is looked as another original medicine material of Triptergium's preparations. In China, T. regelii occurs only in northeast areas while the distribution of T. hypoglaucum and T. wilfordii are overall in the southen(south of Yangzi River). Furthermore, a lot of middle types between T. hypoglaucum and T. wilfordii according to morphological characters are existing. A better identification of relationship and genetic diversity will improve their use, ameliorating the reproducibility and efficacy of commercial products. In the present study, analyses of genetic relationship and diversity were undertaken by using morphophysiological analysis and RAPD fingerprint in order to proving information for cultivation and conservation strategies.1. 24 wild populations, A total of 110 wild individuals of T. wilfordii , T. hypoglaucum and middle types of them, were sampled form the southwest to the southeast of China. Whereas 1 population, 5 individuals from T. regelii, was collected from the Chinese northeast area. At the first, branches of wild singles were collected and the distance between every 2 individuals was further than 500 metres in order to avoid clone. The second, all the samples were cuttaged and transplanted in the germplasm garden of Lishui Institute of Forestry Sciences (Zhejiang province, east of China), as well as were coded in unique number in order to compare different results of other evaluable method .2. In order to surveying the morphology of Tripterigium plants and studying the genetic variation of morphological markers, the taxonomic characters, like leaf size, white powder on the leaf back and inflorescence size was analyzed and the results indicated all of them varied significantly. But the variation is continuous as well as the geographical distribution is continuous too. T. wilfordii and T. hypoglaucum can adapt themselves to the climatic condition of Yangzi River valley. But the growing...