Genetic Variation ofzoysiain Taiwan as Analyzed by Isozyme Patterns and Salinity Tolerance

Genetic Variation ofZoysiaAs Revealed By Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna (Rapd) and Isozyme Pattern

“…Amplification was performed islets were examined by RAPD and isozyme analysis. The results of these analyses were used to delineate the relationships of Zoysia spp., with geographical distribution, morphological characteristics and salinity tolerance reported previously (Weng et al, 1995;Weng and Chen, 2001;Weng, 2002).…”

“…Previously, Weng (2002) found that Zoysia clones collected from the EN region showed a lower genetic diversity than and higher genetic distance to those from other regions, as revealed by esterase and acid phosphatase zymograms. This genetic differentiation in Zoysia spp., as examined by isozyme analysis, was not well related to their taxonomic status (Weng, 2002). Isozyme patterns have been suggested to link with some characteristics of plants, such as stress tolerance (Foolad and Jones, 1993;Basu et al, 1997;Gangopadhyay et al, 1997), disease resistance (Tanksley and Rick, 1980), and high photosynthetic ability (Weng and Chen, 1989).…”

“…However, for the same level of rainfall, clones collected from the northeastern coast of Taiwan (EN region) showed lower salinity tolerance than those collected from other regions (Weng and Chen, 2001). Previously, Weng (2002) found that Zoysia clones collected from the EN region showed a lower genetic diversity than and higher genetic distance to those from other regions, as revealed by esterase and acid phosphatase zymograms. This genetic differentiation in Zoysia spp., as examined by isozyme analysis, was not well related to their taxonomic status (Weng, 2002).…”

“…Previously we found that Zoysia spp. were commonly found in various environments of littoral regions in Taiwan, and showed a great variation in morphology, isozyme pattern and salt tolerance (Weng et al, 1995;Weng and Chen, 2001;Weng, 2002). For example, clones collected from rocky seashores had low-lying leaves and short (< 2.4 cm) internodes, and those from sandy seashores have erect leaves and long (> 6.5 cm) internodes, possibly to avoid being covered with sand (Weng et al, 1995).…”

“…Isozyme patterns have been suggested to link with some characteristics of plants, such as stress tolerance (Foolad and Jones, 1993;Basu et al, 1997;Gangopadhyay et al, 1997), disease resistance (Tanksley and Rick, 1980), and high photosynthetic ability (Weng and Chen, 1989). Since adding CaCl 2 to the nutrient solution decreased the damage of Zoysia clones caused by NaCl (Weng and Chen, 2001), Zoysia clones collected from the EN region, which mainly consists of limestone, might have developed specific genetic adaptation to salinity and calcium (Weng, 2002). However, the genetic aspect of Zoysia spp., growing in Taiwan, is yet unclear.…”