RÉSUMÉ
Objective To analyze the DNA methylation status of polyploid complex of Pinellia ternata. Methods Methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism(MSAP) technique was carried out to analyze the methylation status of polyploid complex of P.ternata. Thirty-four selective primer amplifications were used to check the status of cytosine methylation DNA samples. Results A total of 7 708 bands were obtained.Among them 5 636 bands,each representing a recognition site cleaved by one or both of the isoschizomers(Hpa Ⅱ and Msp Ⅰ),were amplified.Furthermore,methylation patterns varied among the four polyploids:heptaploid,octoploid,nonuploid,and decaploid.Total and full methylation levels in P.ternata were 54%-58% and 24.1%-24.3%.All types of MSAP patterns detected in the study belonged to two classes,type Ⅰ and Ⅱ. 52.5% of detected bands belonged to Type Ⅰ; Another 47.5% were type Ⅱ,which showed the methylation differences among the four polyploids. Conclusion The results demonstrate DNA methylation events occur in P.ternata and the general methylation levels are higher.