Broadening the genetic base of Platycodon grandiflorum DC. cultivar to sustain improvement requires assessment of genetic diversity available in P. grandiflorum DC.. The objective of this study was to analyze the genetic variation, genetic relationship among 48 samples collected from East-Asian Area by means of RAPD-PCR (random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction) markers. From the 18 primers tested, produced total 211 bands with an average of 11.7 bands per primer and obtained 103 polymorphic band with an average of 5.7 bands per primer,s revealed relatively high percentage of polymorphic bands (48.8%). The genetic similarities calculated from RAPD data varied from 0.688 to 0.994 and were clustered to six major groups on a criterion of 0.78 similarity coefficient. The present study has revealed the significant genetic similarity among the samples tested. The analysis of genetic relationships in P. grandiflorum using RAPD-PCR banding data can be useful for the breed improvement.

• Chun-Geun Park
• Zhi-Yi Yan
• Sang-Chul Lee
• Tae-Kwon Shon
• Hee-Woon Park
• Dong-Chun Jin