ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a rapid molecular identification method for Polygonatum filipe species. METHODS: Polymorphism analysis on DNA of P. filipe and P. cyrtonema was performed by using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) molecular markers. Differential ISSR and SRAP bands between the two species were sequenced and species-specific sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) primers were designed for the identification of P. filipe and P. cyrtonema. RESULTS: Under respective optimal annealing temperature, three pairs of SCAR primers can specifically amplify three fragments of 150, 354 and 518 bp only from P. filipe, respectively, not from P. cyrtonema. The SCAR-PCR test was simple and convinent to operate, and reproducible. The molecular identification technology based on SCAR markers was further validated by testing 8 samples of Polygonatum tubes sold in market. CONCLUSION: SCAR molecular technology developed in this study can be used for the assistant identification of P. filipe species.