Allozyme and RAPD polymorphism in Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merr.

Tylophora indica (Burm.f.) Merr (syn. T. asthmatica), is being indiscriminately collected for medicinal use which is not sustainable. Conservation of the species requires information on existing genetic content and its distribution in different populations. In the present study, polymorphism in allozyme and RAPD profiles of five populations were analysed using six enzyme systems and ten random primers. Genetic content in terms of allozymes and RAPDs as revealed by Shannon-Weiner index was more or less same in all the populations. Evenness as calculated from observed diversity (Shannon-Weiner index, H’) and the maximum expected diversity (H^max) for the allozymes and RAPDs was high for individual populations indicating that the distribution of genetic content was fairly uniform. From the results, it was concluded that collection of few genotypes from geographically distinct locations rather than intensive collection within one or two locations would be representative of the genetic variability present in this species.