Available online at www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com Pelagia Research Library Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 2012, 2 (4):478-485 ISSN : 2249-7412 CODEN (USA): AJPSKY 478 Pelagia Research Library Genetic variability and Phylogenetic relationship among some Bamboo species of North- East India by AFLP analysis Subhabrata Ghosh 1 , Bharat Somkuwar 2 , Swati Sen Mandi 1* and Narayan. C. Talukdar 2 1 Bose Institute, 93/1 A.P.C Road, Kolkata-700009, India 2 Institute of Bioresource and Sustainable Development, Imphal-795001, Manipur, India _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The commercial importance of bamboo calls for precise documentation of these plants using molecular parameters since flowering based classical taxonomic grouping of bamboo plants within this group have often been questioned. In the present report, AFLP markers has been used with an aim to providing better understanding of taxonomic grouping of nine bamboo species of Manipur state of North Eastern India that is home to a large population with wide diversity of bamboo plants. The experimental material consisted mainly species of Bambusa and Dendrocalamus genus for which reports on even DNA fingerprinting studies (albeit few) appear confusing. Two other genus viz. Mellocanna and Thyrostachys were also included in the study. AFLP analysis using six pair primer combinations on nine species belonging to four genera of bamboo, generated total 1620 alleles among which 1229 alleles were polymorphic while 391 alleles were monoporphic. The average similarity matrix was used to generate a tree for cluster analysis using software NTSys v 2.1. All the species under Bambusa genus form a distinct cluster except Bambusa balcooa which formed a separate cluster with Thyrostachys siamensis. All species under Dendrocalamus genus have clustered together sharing a common origin with Bambusa cluster. Another species viz. Melocanna baccifera also originated from this common root but exhibited distinct existence suggesting independent evolution. Keywords: DNA fingerprinting, Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism, Bamboo, Genetic diversity, Molecular Systematics. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Bamboos are giant members of the grass group of plants belonging to family Poaceae. The unique hard and strong stem (culms), varying in height in different species, provide structural props and building material. One of the species Bambusa balcooa has been identified by FAO as the strongest among all bamboos; stems and culms of this species have highest specific gravity compared to all other species of Bambusa genus. In addition to other uses of bamboo, this species also has huge demand in paper pulp industry. The use of bamboo as an ingredient in biofuel is also reported [1]. A total of about 100 species (including 13 cultivated) of bamboo belonging to the 19 genera have been reported from India [2]. Of this, the North Eastern states have over 50% of the genotypes representing about 16 genera covering 63 species [3] [4]. With this large population representing commendable biodiversity, it is important that the bamboo plant genetic resource of this region be precisely Characterized and Documented. Recognized for its importance universally bamboo constitutes an important entity in world trade the value for which is expected to reach about US $ 20 billion by 2015. In this trade China's share (with its rich population and diversity of bamboo) alone is to the tune of 50% [5]