Detection of genetic polymorphism by RAPD-PCR among isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis

Sixteen isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis recovered from different Jordani an habitats were compared using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RA PD) to determine whether they could be differentiated at the molecular leve l. Total genomic DNA from each isolate and three reference strains were amp lified using 10-mer primers. Electrophoretic analysis of the amplification products revealed the incidence of polymorphism among the isolates. Pair-wi se comparisons of polymorphic products were used to construct a dendrogram applying the cluster analysis. Fifteen of the isolates were all in one majo r cluster which was divided into six small groups. Such analysis showed som e regional variation among the isolates, but did not indicate a clearly def ined habitat locational pattern of the DNA polymorphism.