Genetic relationship among Dioscorea Species and Cultivars by Rhizophore Protein Analysis with Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Abstract

Rhizophore Protein Band Analysis using Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) was conducted on Dioscoreas collected in Japan and Korea. In D. opposita, there were two typical band in male cultivars such as 'Nagaimo' and 'Tokkuriimo' regardless of rhizophore shape. Many band patterns were recognized in female D. opposita cultivars, such as 'Ichoimo' and 'Tsukuneimo'; some of which more closely resembled those of D. japonicathan those of the male cultivars in D. opposita. These female cultivars in D. opposita segregated from the male cultivars with respect to susceptibility against Yam Mosaic Virus and the Chinese Yam Necrotic Mosaic Virus and the viscosity of the rhizophores. Band patterns of D. japonica and D. opposita cultivars with long narrow rhizophores differed. Within D. opposita, cordate leaves correlate with femaleness, whereas long, cordate leaves correlate with maleness even though their band patterns are similar, the rhizophore shapes also differ. Band patterns and rhizophore shapes of D. esculents, D. alata and D. cirrhosa differ from those of D. opposita and D. japonica.