Evaluation of Valeriana Plants and Their Improvement for Crude Drug Production

Genomic DNAs from fresh leaves of Valeriana fauriei Briquet ecotypes and the relating species were studied by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Species- or ecotype-specific RAPD markers were obtained from 13 of the 16 species and ecotypes used in this study. Quite a large number of markers were observed in V.wallichii and V.fauriei ecotype Akkado. The dendrogram revealed that the ecotypes of V.fauriei (except Akkado) were clearly distinguishable from V.officinalis and V.wallichii. Interestingly, Akkado was found to be a unique ecotype ; V.officinalis was more closely related to the other ecotypes of V.fauriei than Akkado. It was found that RAPD markers can be used to study the genetic relationship of Valeriana.