Variability of chloroplast DNA in the genus Passiflora L.

Restriction fragment analysis was used to determine the variation of chloro plast DNA (cpDNA) among and within different species of Passiflora. Total D NAs of 35 accessions, representing 12 species, were digested with four rest riction endonucleases. Southern blots of the restriction digests were then probed with eight different cpDNA fragments from Petunia and mung bean. Two hundred fragments were scored, and used to estimate the genetic distance a mong the species according to UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method using Ari tmetic Averages) analysis. Overall, the analysis successfully separated spe cies according to the present classification scheme based on morphological description demonstrating profound cpDNA diversity among the 12 species eva luated. Intraspecific variation was observed in four of seven species that were represented by more than two accessions.