Genetic Analysis of Prunus salicina L. by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Intersimple Sequence Repeat (ISSR).

Background: Prunus salicina L. is an important fruit tree species of great economic value which is mainly distributed in the northern hemisphere. Methods: 25 samples of Prunus salicina L. were collected from 8 provinces in China, Japan, USA, and New Zealand. The genetic variations of these samples were characterized by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) technique, respectively, and in combination. Results: Totally, 257 RAPD bands ranging 200∼2300 bp was found, and 81.59% of these bands were polymorphic. ISSR analysis identified 179 bands ranging 300∼2500 bp, and 87.74% of the bands were polymorphic. ISSR results showed that the similarity coefficient index between samples P10 (Maihuangli in Anhui, Chin) and P13 (Longyuanqiuli in Heilongjiang, China) was lowest, while that between samples P10 (Maihuangli in Anhui, Chin) and P15 (Baili in Japan) was highest. Combined analysis of RAPD and ISSR demonstrated that the similarity coefficient index between samples P4 (Qiepili in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China) and P13 (Longyuanqiuli in Heilongjiang, China) was lowest, while that between samples P19 (Laroda in USA) and P20 (Red heart in USA) was highest. Conclusion: RAPD combined with ISSR analysis can be used for genetic characterization of Prunus L. species.

Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of leucomalachite green administered orally to rats.

Malachite green (MG) had been extensively used worldwide in the past few decades as an effective fungicide, bactericide, ectoparasiticide, and antiprotozoan on fish. It is rapidly and extensively metabolized to leucomalachite green (LMG) in fishes. To study the developmental toxicity of LMG, we evaluated the maternal and embryo/fetal effects of LMG orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats once daily from day 6-15 of gestation at dose levels of 0, 10, 80, and 160 mg/kg/day. In the current investigation, the unmetabolized compound (LMG) was detected in the plasma of the dams treated with LMG and in the amniotic fluid. At dose levels of 80 and 160 mg/kg/day, LMG induced maternal toxicity, which consisted of severe reduction in maternal weight and food consumption during the treatment period. Doses of 80 and 160 mg/kg/day induced fetal skeletal abnormalities. The major skeletal defects were bipartite ossification of the thoracic centrum. LMG at 160 mg/kg/day also induced marked embryolethality and visceral abnormalities. Based on the results of this study, a dose level of 10mg/kg/day is considered the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for maternal and fetal developmental toxicity in rats.