Effat A. Badr, A.A. Hemeida, O. M. Badawy and Hadia A. Hekal
الملخص الانجليزي
Molecular characterization of five potato cultivars, namely Alpha, Cara, Diamond, Draga
and Spunta was performed using SDS-PAGE. Different developmental stages in each cultivar were
also compared. Protein banding patterns showed differential gene expression in the different
developmental stages in each cultivar. The dendrogram based on polymorphic protein bands
showed the genetic distances between cultivars. The data showed that Spunta is closely related to
Diamond, especially at the plant stage. Spunta is known to be drought-tolerant. Therefore,
Diamond might also be planted under conditions of water stress.
The present research is the first to establish phylogenetic as well as ontogenetic relationships
between important potato cultivars in Egypt. The method can be applied to other important crops,
thus saving time, effort and expenses.