Genetic Diversity Analysis of Five Mungbean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) Varieties Based on Ribulose 1, 5-Biphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Large Subunit Gene (rbcL) Sequence

Abstract

The Philippines is part of the center of diversity of mungbean (Vigna radiata). Despite of this, efforts in mungbean’s varietal development in the country has been very meager. Consequently, current mungbean varieties in the market lack key information on their genetic diversity and constitution. And this eventually leads to the species’ narrowed genetic base. Molecular assessment of the Ribulose 1, 5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large (rbcL) subunit gene sequences of five mungbean varieties (Super Yield 1, Super Yield 2, Thai-KUML, Pag-asa 3 and Kulabo) was done to acquire initial information on their genetic diversity. Modified Milligan  method was used to isolate DNA from 5–day old sprouts. The rbcL gene for each sample was amplified and sequenced. BLASTn and MEGA7 and were used to generate the phylogenetic tree. The consensus maximum likelihood tree revealed that the five mungbean varieties are closely related to each other as far as the genetic affinity of their rbcL gene sequences are concerned. Moreover, this suggests that these varieties are genetically related and may be originated from the same progenitor.