Molecular phylogeny of mangroves VII. PCR-RFLP of trnS-psbC and rbcL gene regions in 24 mangrove and mangrove-associate species

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) regions, trnS-psbC and rbcL, from 120 individuals o f 24 mangrove and mangrove associate species belonging to 11 orders, 13 fam ilies and 17 genera of Angiospermae were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction-digested with HaeIII. Analysis of polymorphi sm in the restriction fragments (PCR-RFLP) revealed Is classes of restricti on banding pattern in trnS-psbC region. This has provided molecular evidenc e for diversity in the mangrove floral component at the above-species level . Intra-generic variations were observed in three genera, viz. Rhizophora, Avicennia and Suaeda. Species-specific restriction patterns were found in t he genera Rhizophora and: Suaeda. A natural hybrid belonging to the genus R hizophora was also analysed, and its restriction pattern was the same as th at of a putative parental species. PCR-RFLP analysis of rbcL gene region wa s less differentiating. However, it showed 13 different classes of restrict ion patterns and revealed the usefulness of these investigations for genome analysis at a higher taxonomic level. Intra-specific variation was not obs erved in any of the species in either of the cpDNA regions analysed. This i s the first report which describes variations in the chloroplast genome of mangrove species.