Variation in relative DNA content in maca and yacon germplasm

摘要

A set of 12 maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) genotypes and 24 genotypes of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Endl.) H. Robins.) were analyzed for relative DNA amount variation. Nuclear DNA content, estimated by using flow cytometry (DAPI staining), showed that 2C DNA amount ranged from 1.63 to 1.69 in maca. A mean 2C DNA content ranging from 5.81 to 6.12 was found for yacon accessions. Statistical analysis of data based on relative DNA contents does not correspond to either morphological features or to isozyme polymorphism of both crops studied.