GENOME SIZE DETERMINATION AND RAPD ANALYSIS OF FOUR EDIBLE AROIDS OF NORTH EAST INDIA

Four edible aroid species were selected for the study. The genomic DNA of the plants was isolated and estimated. A part of the genomic DNA was used for analysis using six different primers from Operon Technologies, USA. The genome size determined for the aroids is in the order of Colocasia esculenta> Xanthosoma caracu> Xanthosoma sagittifolium > Amorphophallus paeonifolius. Amorphophallus species was found to be 50% similar to both Xanthosoma caracu and Colocasia esculenta. The analysis will provide a ground for exploring the vast diversified aroid population of the region.