Abstract:
The genetic similarity coefficients and cluster analysis maps on
Lactuca pulchella (
Lp) and its 11 closely related species were obtained by using PCR to amplify ITS,
matK and
rbcL gene from the total DNA fragments of the lettuce varieties. Based on the ITS sequences, a similarity between
Lp and
L. sativa var.
ramose was found to be 93.6%; between
Lp and
L. sativa , 93.1%; between
Lp and
L. serriola , 92.6%;and, between
Lp and
Mulgedium tataricum , the lowest at 87.8%. According to the
matK sequences, a similarity between
Lp and
L. sativa var.
ramose was shown to be 99.2%;between
Lp and
L. sativa , 99.0%, ; between
Lp and
L. serriol , 99.1%; and, between
Lp and
M.tataricum , 98.3%. It appeared that
Lp was related closer to the
Lactuca species than
Mulgedium . By comparing the
rbcL ,
Lp and
L. sativa L. var.
ramosa had a perfect match with a 100% similarity; whereas,
Lp and
L. sativa ,
L. indica ,
L.serriola ,
L. hirsute or
L. perennis , at 99.7%;and,
Lp and
M. tataricum , at 99.4%. Consequently, it was concluded that
Lp belonged to the genus
Lactuca .