MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SELECTED MENTHA SPECIES

The present study was conducted with the objective of finding out the concordance between morphological data and molecular data of Mentha spicata and Mentha royleana. Moreover the study was aimed to investigate the relationship between and within the two species. Mentha species were collected from QAU, Shadara, Chattar, Donga gali and Qarshi industries, Hattar. For molecular study Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA was performed which was efficient in detecting polymorphism and genetic variation within and between Mentha species. Random primer OPC-9 generated a total of 63 bands sharing 93.6% polymorphism in Mentha spicata whereas OPC-4 generated 30 bands showing 100% polymorphism in Mentha royleana. The morphological and molecular data were analysed using softwares NTSYS pc version 2.02. The results indicated a considerable level of morphological and molecular diversity between the species.