DNA BARCODING AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF GNETUM SPECIES (GNETUMAFRICANUMWELW.AND GNETUMBUCHHOLZIANUM ENGL.) FOUND IN IKOT AKPADEN IN AKWA IBOM STATE USING MATK GENE

ABSTRACT GnetumafricanumWelw. is an interesting example for traditional plant with both medicinal and nutritional value though only few research work has been done on this plant. The present study was focused on DNA barcoding of GnetumafricanumWelw. and Gnetumbuchholzianum Engl. using matK (maturase K) gene. Total genomic DNA was isolated from young leaves of Gnetum species (GnetumafricanumWelw. and Gnetumbuchholzianum Engl.) and the PCR approach was used to amplify matK gene using it forward and reverse primer sequences resulting in an amplicon size of about 800bp. Amplicon from both species of Gnetum were sequenced and authenticated using BLASTn algorithm in NCBI. This retrieve similar gene region of different plant species Sabiceadiversifolia for GnetumafricanumWelw. with highest percentage identity of 80% and Amaranthus cruentus for GnetumbuchholzianumEngl. with highest percentage identity of 99.62% respectively. The results authenticate the gene sequence to be matK gene of Gnetum species. It has many uses in various fields such as agriculture, sustaining natural resources, protecting endangered species, water quality, preserving natural resources and identification of medicinal plants. It is therefore recommended that DNA Barcoding and molecular identification of plant species should be practiced when it comes to the identification of new plant species.