TY - JOUR AU - Chaves-Bedoya, Giovanni PY - 2022/01/01 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Study on Croton sp. genetic diversity in the Department of Norte de Santander using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) JF - Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Hortícolas JA - Rev. Colomb. Cienc. Hortic VL - 16 IS - 1 SE - Section on aromatic, medicinal and spice plants DO - 10.17584/rcch.2022v16i1.13592 UR - https://revistas.uptc.edu.co/index.php/ciencias_horticolas/article/view/13592 SP - e13592 AB - <p>Genetic variability studies on species with a pharmacological potential are essential for conserving genetic resources. A genetic characterization of a species can guide efforts to collect and conserve germplasm for future breeding programs. The <em>Croton</em> genus belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, which has approximately 1,300 species, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has a wide range of ethnobotanical and medicinal uses. The aim of this research was to study genetic variability by analyzing sequences of the internal transcribed space region (ITS1 5'-TCCGTAGGGAACCTGCGGC-3' and ITS4 5'-TCCTCCGCTTATGC-3') of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of a Croton population from forested areas in the Department of Norte de Santander in the municipalities of Chinacota, Pamplona and El Zulia. The results indicated considerable genetic variability in the <em>Croton</em> population, with a nucleotide similarity ranging from 54 to 99% and phylogenetical grouping according to the place of origin. The information gained from the ITS region can be a useful parameter for diversity evaluations and phylogenetic studies since there are no similar studies on <em>Croton</em> in this department in northeastern Colombia.</p> ER -