Variation of noncoding chloroplast DNA in Fagopyrum species revealed by PCR-RFLP

Three pairs of universal primers were used for PCR amplification of three non-coding regions of chloroplast DNA, followed by restriction fragment analysis of amplified fragments in order to study the variation among eight species and two subspecies of the genus Fagopyrum. Three length mutations were identified, which divided the analysed species into two distinct groups. Subsequent restriction fragment analysis revealed 15 different restriction patterns, which allowed further differentiation among some species. Phenetic analysis of the length and restriction pattern variation revealed genetic relationships that are consistent with the previous taxonomic arrangements of these species. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of this simple and low-cost technioue for resolving genetic relationships in Fagopyrum.