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EVALUATION OF TAXONOMIC STATUS OF MEDICINAL SPECIES OF THE GENUS SOLANUM AND CAPSICUM BASED ON POLY ACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS

ZUBAIDA YOUSAF, SHAHID MASOOD ¹, ZABTA KHAN SHINWARI ¹, MIR AJAB KHAN AND ASHIQ RABANI¹

Abstract: Seed protein profiles of 54 accessions belonging to 11 species of 2 different genera (Solanum and Capsicum) of the family Solanaceae were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Intra and inter specific relationship was estimated using Jaccard's similarity index. A dendrogram based on UPGMA revealed the generic status of Solanum and Capsicum. S. surattense with white flowers showed variation from the S. surattense with purple flowers not only morphologically but also based on protein profiles. However the high similarity index (82%) between them indicates that S. surattense (W) should be separated from S. surattense (P) as variety nova. S. nigrum and S. americanum are two distinct species, whereas S. villosum is the subspecies of S. nigrum. Similarity index of S. villosum and S. americanum was 53 % whereas it has similarity of 78% with S. nigrum. Similarity was 41% between S. nigrum and S. americanum. Based on the total seed protein profile, the genus Solanum can be divided into two sub genera. The distribution of species in these two subgenera is contrary to conventional classification. The present study provides useful information for the identification of the taxa, their relationship and the delimitation of their taxonomic status.
 

Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Institute of Agri-biotechnology and Genetic Research, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan.