MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF SARGASSUM-POLYCYSTUM AND S-SILIQUOSUM (PHAEOPHYTA) BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION (PCR) USING RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD) PRIMERS

Genomic DNA was extracted from 13 samples of Sargassum polycystum and S. siliquosum collected from various localities around Peninsular Mala ysia and Singapore by using four different extraction methods. The yie lds and the suitability of the DNA to be used as template for the poly merase chain reaction (PCR) was compared. DNA samples were subjected t o PCR analysis by using random primers. Only DNA samples that were ext racted using the CTAB method were successfully amplified by random amp lified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR. Five of 31 random primers (OPA02, O PA03, OPA04, OPA13 and OPM10) tested amplified sequences of DNA from t he DNA samples. Reproducible, amplified products were obtained using t hese primers and showed some potential to be useful in discriminating individual samples within the genus, in determining relationships betw een species within a genus and in developing individual fingerprints f or individual samples.