DNA POLYMORPHISM ANALYSIS IN 5 ENDANGERED SPECIES OF MECONOPSIS (HIMALAYAN POPPY) USING MULTI-COPY SEQUENCE-BASED PROBES

An attempt to understand the genetic basis of extinction of Meconopsis (Himalayan poppy), an endangered genus of ornamental value and confin ed to alpine Himalayas, is described. Multicopy DNA sequences were iso lated from a Sau3A partial genomic plasmid library of M. simplicifolia and M. paniculata. Genetic polymorphism between five species of Mecon opsis belonging to geographically isolated populations was evident, al beit at a low level, in genomic Southerns when probed with repetitive DNA clones isolated from this library. Intra-population monomorphic ba nd patterns for different populations of a species was evident with re spect to a number of enzymes suggesting very low or no genetic variabi lity and/or low mutation rate within a given population of Meconopsis.