MOLECULAR SEPARATION OF GENERA IN CASSIINAE (LEGUMINOSAE), AND ANALYSIS OF VARIATION IN THE NODULATING SPECIES OF CHAMAECRISTA

Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) methods have been adapted fo r use as a phenetic tool on the legume tribe Cassiinae. RAPD-generated polymorphism within local populations was lower than between populati ons from different geographic regions, between species and genera. Exa mination of three Cassia species, 12 Chamaecrista species and 13 Senna species using eight primers showed the potential for separation of th e nodulated/nitrogen fixing genus Chamaecrista from the previously con generic groups Cassia and Senna. Similarly, RAPD analysis of two group s of nine Ch. rotundifolia and nine Ch. mimosoides samples using 11 pr imers has given separation according to both species and to geographic al location. Analysis of a small sample of five Chamaecrista species f rom Brazil with eight primers gave separation consistent with known va riations in nodule structure.