SPECIES RELATIONSHIPS IN THE SUBGENUS CERATOTROPIS (GENUS VIGNA) AS REVEALED BY RAPD ANALYSIS

The genetic variation among 23 accessions of 5 species in the subgenus Ceratotropis, genus Vigna, were investigated by random amplified poly morphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A total of 404 fragments amplified with 2 4 primers were scored and analyzed by duster analysis. The accessions used were separated into two main groups with an average of 70% differ ences. Within the main groups, five subgroups were recognized, which a re in complete agreement with taxonomic species. Wild forms were alway s grouped with their most closely related cultivated forms and they sh owed variation in each species. The largest intraspecific variation wa s found in V. radiata (mungbean), in which wild forms (V. radiata var. sublobata) were highly different from each other and from cultivated forms. V. angularis (adzuki bean) showed the least variation and thus, was probably differentiated in relatively recent times.