title: Comparative analysis of genetic polymorphisms among Monascus strains by ISSR and RAPD markers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genus Monascus includes several species of fungi valued across Asia for their culinary uses and diverse medicinal properties. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers in characterizing the genetic diversity in 41 Monascus strains collected from various regions of Fujian Province, the leading producer of Monascus in China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven screened ISSR primers generated 56 polymorphic bands, of which 93.33% were polymorphic. The genetic similarity coefficients (GSC) of the strains ranged from 0.50 to 1.00. Comparative sequence analysis using seven screened RAPD primers amplified a total of 49 polymorphic bands, of which 81.67% were polymorphic; GSC values ranged from 0.62 to 1.00.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation in genetic distances assessed using above two markers, which indicated they were suitable for Monascus species characterization. ISSR markers were more suitable for the classification and determination of Monascus species, while RAPD markers appear to be preferable for analyzing the differences among strains within the same species. Our study revealed that Monascus possesses rich genetic diversity, and that the genetic relationships among the selected strains were, to a very limited extent, correlated to their geographical variation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural Engineering Technology, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Long
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Mycological Research Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Mycological Research Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Bingzhi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Fujian Academy of Medical Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Si-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Mycological Research Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Zhang-E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural Engineering Technology, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Mycological Research Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005819:Genetic Markers; D032741:Monascus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography / Q000379:methods; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: Monascus; cluster analysis; genetic diversity; molecular marker