Bletilla formosana (Hayata) Schltr., with medicinal and ornamental value, is a unique Orchidaceae plant in Taiwan. It is in the same genus with Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb. f., a commonly known Chinese medicine. Genetic makers of RAPD and ISSR were used to analyze different species in Bletilla genus and plants of B. formosana collected from different regions in Taiwan. Species of B. striata, B.ochracea and 20 plant samples of B. fomosana (Hayata) Schltr. collected form different regions of Taiwan were used in this study. A total 18 primers was selected by its high reproduction from 80 pairs of RAPD primers and 100 pairs of ISSR primers for the consecutive experimens. A total of 165 molecular markers was detected, of them, 161 markers were polymorphic by using 12 pairs of RAPD primers. A total of 90 molecular markers, of them, 83 markers were polymorphic by using the 6 pairs of ISSR primers. All RAPD msrkers were found unique to distinguish among Bletilla. genus species used in this study. However, only ISSR markers were able to reveal differences of class under B. formosana species. A unwighted pair-group mean arithmetical (UPGMA) analysis based on RAPD and ISSR bands from 25 tested samples for genetic similarity among detected samples was conducted The phylogenetic tree showed that genetic differences among ethnic groups of B. formosans (Hayata) Schltr. f. kotoensis (Hayata) T. P. Lin may related with the geographical segregation. The results from this study may provide not only unique markers for identification species among Bletilla genus but also provide useful genetic information for breeding new varieties of B.
frommosana
