ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide DNA molecular marker for identification of Nelumbo nucifera by exploring the differences of nrDNA-ITS sequence of N. nucifera originated from different habitats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>To compare nrDNA-ITS base sequence using specific PCR-ITS.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The completed sequence of ITS and 5.8 S rDNA, and the partial sequences of 18S rDNA and 26S rDNA, totally 750 bp, from N. nucifera were obtained. The differences among N. nucifera from different habitats and from different cultivars were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method can be used to identify N. nucifera among different species and to distinguish their fakes. It provided the basis for identifying N. nucifera from different geographical regions by comparison of their ITS sequences.</p>