Genetic diversity in some south-Indian Cinnamomum Scha. species revealed by RAPD markers

A. M. Sandigawad; C. G. Patil

A. M. Sandigawad Department of Botany (Genetics), Karnatak Science College, College Road, Dharwad 580 001
C. G. Patil Department of Botany (Genetics), Karnatak Science College, College Road, Dharwad 580 001

Keywords: .

Abstract

The genus Cinnamomum Scha. consists of several species which have considerable economic importance. Cinnamomum fruit, bark and leaves are used as spice and also as a medicine. It is a valuable source of camphor, cinnamaldehyde and safrol oil. Cinnamomum is the largest genus in the family Lauraceae comprising 250 species, which are distributed in India, Sri-Lanka and Australia. In South-India, genus Cinnamomum is represented by 12 endemic species and an imported cultivar C. verum. Medicinally important Cinnamon oil of the world trade comes from three species viz., C. zeylanicum, C.cassia and C. camphora.