Abstract
Abha area, Saudi Arabia has unique environmental conditions that may support the expansion of Nicotiana glauca and many other weed plants. In this study, Nicotiana glauca samples were collected from seven populations having various elevations namely King Abdullah Road- altitude 6.955 feet, Alsamer- altitude 7.272 feet, Lasan- altitude 7.000 feet, Aseer Mall- altitude 6.845 feet, Almahalah- altitude 6.762 feet, Al-sarhan- altitude 6.888 feet and Almoadafeen- altitude 7.015 feet in Abha area, Saudi Arabia. The DNA was extracted from fresh leaves of Nicotiana glauca and ten random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, eight inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and nine mixed RAPD primers were used to investigate the genetic variations. RAPD markers produced a total of 151 scorable bands and the highest genetic similarity (58.95%) was found between Lasan (7.000 feet) and Aseer Mall (6.845 feet) populations, while the lowest similarity (26.89%) between Alsamer (7.272 feet) and Al-sarahan (6.888 feet) populations. ISSR markers produced 187 bands and revealed that the highest similarity (60.52%) was between Al-sarhan (6.888 feet) and Almoadafeen (7.015 feet) populations, while the lowest similarity value (32.62%) between King Abdullah Road (6.955 feet) and Aseer Mall (6.845 feet) populations. Mixed RAPD primers provided 135 bands and the highest similarity value (59.76%) was between Lasan (7.000 feet) and Aseer Mall (6.845 feet), while the lowest similarity value (24.42%) was between King Abdullah Road (6.955 feet) and Al-sarhan (6.888 feet). Total RAPD, ISSR and mixed RAPD data showed that the highest similarity value (51.12%) was between Lasan (7.000 feet) and Aseer Mall (6.845 feet), while the lowest similarity value (33.05%) between King Abdullah Road (6.955 feet) and Al-sarhan (6.888 feet). In conclusion, investigated biomarkers including RAPD, ISSR and mixed RAPD showed varied ability to distinguish among the genotypes of N glauca plant growing in Abha region, Saudi Arabia and explain why the plant invasive to many localities. (C) 2018 Friends Science Publishers