CLONAL IDENTIFICATION of some POPLAR.species is carried out using morphological and phonological characters. This approach does not render a proper differentiation. The goal of this work was to produce molecular patterns which may be useful for CLONAL IDENTIFICATION using the Random P. Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAP D) technique Twelve POPLAR.clones namely 3 of Populus alba, 3 of P. nigra, 3 of P. euphratica, and 3 of P. deltoides were screened in order to evaluate the genetic diversity of the cited species and clones. Reaction conditions including MgC12 genomic DNA, dNTPs, Primers, Taq DNA polymerase, denaturation, annealing and extension temperature and durations were optimized to get resolved and reproducible band patterns Amplification products were analyzed by electrophoresis in agarose gel and detected by staining with ethidium bromide From the 10 random DNA primers tested, only primers including OPN06, OPC04, OPA 16 and DECA 7 were information to differentiate POPLAR.species. Two of the primers; OPC04 and OPN06 produced polymorphic bands for all clones. The results indicate that the RAPD.technique is an adequate tool to obtain DNA fingerprints for CLONAL IDENTIFICATION.

Micropropagated plantlets derived from three different grape rootstock genotypes namely, Dogridge (Vitis champini), SO4 (V. berlandieri×V. rupestris) and ARI-H-144 (V. vinifera×V. labrusca) were subjected to randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD. and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) analyses in order to evaluate their genetic stability and/or detect likely existing variations among in vitro derived plantlets. A dozen RAPD.(10-mer) and ten ISSR (dinucleotide contained repeats) primers were used for PCR and reproducible band profiles were obtained. The 84 and 81 distinct and scorable band classes (a total of 1,914 and 1,980 scorable bands) with an average of 7.0 and 8.1 bands per primer were obtained by RAPD.and ISSR, respectively. Although higher numbers of bands were obtained by ISSR rather than RAPD. but none of the primers showed polymorphism among micropropagated plantlets and their respective mother plants. The profiles generated based on the two marker systems were found to be highly uniform and monomorphic. Cluster analysis further confirmed genetic stability of micropropagated plantlets. Jaccard’s similarity coefficients obtained for both markers in mother plants and their in vitro regenerants were estimated to be 1.00 but three sets of genotypes were grouped into two major clusters with similarity coefficients of 0.53 (RAPD. and 0.63 (ISSR). The molecular analyses precisely proved the production of genetically stable grape plantlets and certified the application of micropropagation protocol to be developed on a commercial scale.

IDENTIFICATION of POPLAR.clones is necessary, Particularly at early stage of growth, to demonstrate their similarity and diversity in selection process. IDENTIFICATION and selection of POPLAR.clones was carried out using morphological attributes after a process period of 10-15years. Although this approach, renders some information about the clones growth characteristics, but requires relatively high costs for time and site. In this study 12 clones belonged to four species were planted under randomized complete blocks statistical design with three replicates and their data were recorded during the years 1999-2001. Twenty distinctive morphological attributes of the POPLAR.clones leaves, branches and roots which according to the new methods can be applied to identify clones and species at early growth stages, were measured at different times. The data were analyzed using various univariate and multivariate statistical methods including analysis of variance, cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results shows that the morphological markers in conjunction with appropriate statistical methods are able to differentiate POPLAR.clones. There were significant differences between the species and clones, regarding their morphological characteristics. Although univariate analysis was not suitable for systematical classification, but multivariate analyses such as cluster and component analyses were the best for the clones and species classification. Overall, the clones of the species P. alba, P. nigra, P. euphratica and P.deltoides were classified at separate groups.

Background: Probiotics are non-pathogenic useful microorganisms having positive effects on the host health. The aim of the present study was to discriminate Lactobacillus species extracted from traditional dairy products.Methods: This study was conducted on 26 specimens collected from traditional dairy products in Bukan. Lactobacillus species were separated and purified employing biochemical tests. Then, the intra/inter-species diversity was investigated using RAPD.PCR (random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction) technique.Results: Polymorphism information content (PIC) value varied between 15.9% and 34.4% with a maximum value of 34.4% associated with primer 1254. The mean of and Marker index (MI) for the 6 primers was 4.52, in which the maximum and minimum values belonged to the primers 1254 and OPA-02, respectively. The isolates were categorized into 4 main clusters according to Jaccard similarity coefficient using UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means) clustering method. Principle coordinates analysis (PCoA) demonstrated that the first and second components explained 30.59% and 22.48% of variances, i.e.53.07% of variances in total. The results of RAPD.marker indicated that the intra-species diversity was greater than inter-species diversity. The intra-group variance explained 94% of the all variance, while inter-group variance explained only 6% of the all variance. Moreover, the results of analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that the highest level of discrimination occurred at the 16 groups cut-off point with a similar coefficient of 0.56.Conclusions: From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that traditional dairy products are enriched sources of probiotic bacteria which can ensure the health of general population and enhance their immunoe systems. Moreover, RAPD.PCR is an appropriate method for detection and calssification of lactobassiluses.

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is the most valuable and indigenous crop in Iran. The stigmas of flower are used as a popular natural flavouring, colouring and medicinal agent. However, the market suffers from frauds in this plant such as mixing with safflower petals due to high profit. IDENTIFICATION of these frauds with conventional and biochemical methods is difficult and low sensitive. Therefore, application of molecular markers such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD. /sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) is being considered as an alternative. In this study, DNA was extracted from dry stigmas of 5 Saffron accessions and dry petals of 7 safflower cultivars. RAPD.reactions with ten 15-mer random primers resulted in two specific monomorphic bands (500 and 700 bp) for safflower, while they were absent in saffron accessions. PCR analysis with specific SCAR primers amplified two specific bands (414 and 589 bp) for safflowers in different combinations of saffron stigmas and safflower petals. This was the case with very low rates or 1% of safflower. Therefore, this method seems to be suitable for fraud IDENTIFICATION of safflower petals in commercial saffron samples.

Background: Characterization of Leishmania parasites is necessary for epidemiological objectives such as documenting the distribution of predominant species and designing appropriate control measures. In this study, we aimed to identify Leishmania species isolated from cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients, using RAPD.PCR method. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was designed against 20 Leishmania spp. which were confirmed by parasitological examination, isolated from 30 suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, referred to Health Centers of Kermanshah Province from August 2006 to December 2007. All desirable samples were characterized by RAPD.PCR method using five selected oligoprimers (AB1-O7, A4, 327, 329 and M13). Electrophoresis patterns from each isolate were compared with reference strains of L. tropica, L. major and L. infantum.Results: Eighty nine percent and 11% of isolates were similar to L. major and L. tropica reference strain, respectively. Five of the isolates were identified as L. major using RAPD.PCR, induce ulcers at the base tail of Balb/c mice, 4-6 months after inoculation.Conclusion: L. major is dominant in the studied areas and it seems that some parts of the Kermanshah Province to be probably considered as zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis areas in the middle west of Iran.

In order to identify markers linked to cold resistance genes, an F2 population derived from a cross between cv. SLMO46 (winter type and cold resistant) and cv. Quantum (spring type and susceptible to low temperature) was evaluated. The parental polymorphism was assessed using 250 RAPD.primers. Forty seven polymorphic primers were selected for genotyping of the F2 individuals. LT50 (the temperature in which 50% of plants killed) was used as a cold resistance index in F3 families derived from each F2 plant. Linkage map was constructed using polymorphic markers. The markers were assigned to nine linkage groups with total length of 1017.6 cM and an average distance of 23.13 cM between adjacent markers. The relationship between LT50 and genotypic data were analyzed using single marker analysis, interval mapping and composite interval mapping methods. Basedon the analyses, five QTL exploring 40 % of the LT50 phenotypic variance, were detected.

The secondarily homothallic life cycle of white button mushroom which results in scarcity of uninucleate basidiospores (homokaryons) in its progeny, is the most impediment for genetic improvement of its strains. With respect to uncertainty of fruiting test and nonexistence of specified morphological criterion, in two recent decades scientists have used molecular markers as a fast and certain criterion for screening of homokaron isolates. In this study, RAPD.markers have been used for IDENTIFICATION of homokaryon isolates. Results showed that RAPD.markers could discriminate homokaryons and heterokaryons based on number of bands. The number of band in homokaryons significantly reduced compared to those of heterokaryons. Results also showed that cluster analysis based on average of band number could separate homokaryon and heterokaryon isolates in two distinct groups.