RAPD analysis on high-taxane-contained accessions of Taxus chinensis var. mairei

Taxus chinensis var. mairei (Lemee et Levl.) Cheng et L. K. Fu is one of the resource plants in China. The taxol contents from different localities are variable. RAPD and HPLC analysis were carried out with 24 samples from 12 localities. A total of 256 loci were amplified among which 224 loci were polymorphic (87.8%). Based on the HPLC and morphological analysis, the relationship among RAPD markers, morphology and habitat was explored. According to the results, high-taxane-contained accessions are present in three localities. This study might be of benefit to the resource conservation and species improvement.