African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (12), pp. 1368-1371, December 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Optimization of protocols for DNA extraction and RAPD analysis in West African fonio (Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua ) germplasm characterization

Danladi Dada KUTA¹, Emmanuel KWON-NDUNG² Stephen DACHI¹, Oladele BAKARE², and Liasu Adebayo OGUNKANMI³

¹Biotechnology Advanced Laboratory, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Km 32 Abuja-Lokoja road, Sheda, P.M.B. 186 Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.

²Acha Research Programme, National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, PMB 8 Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.

³Department of Cell and molecular biology, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author. E-mail: Drkuta2002@yahoo.com.

Accepted 31 August, 2005

Fonio is an important indigenous grain crop of West Africa, but the extent of genetic diversity in fonio, its origin and phylogeny are not well understood. DNA markers allow precise characterization of plant germplasm accessions, but there is no literature report of their use in fonio. This paper reports the result of protocol optimization research for DNA isolation and RAPD analyses in fonio. High quality DNA was successfully isolated and RAPD was effectively used to study genetic similarity among fonio accessions. This result might stimulate the application of DNA markers to investigate the origin and phylogeny of fonio in Africa.

Key words: Digitaria spp., DNA markers, RAPD, germplasm characterization, fonio.