Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2005

Twenty-one fern species from Bago Oshiro, Catalunan Pequeno, and Epol, Marilog District Davao City, and Napunangan in Arakan Cotabato were analyzed using RAPD technique to determine their genetic characteristics and relationships. Ninety-seven polymorphic bands were generated from the three primers, of which, 32 bands came from primer SG-01, 25 bands from primer SG-02, and 40 bands from primer SG-05, respectively. The molecular sizes of these bands ranged from 29 to 2,392 bp. The largest band was generated in primer SG-01 by Cyathea contaminans, while the smallest was from Pyrossia piloselloides generated in primer SG-02. Similarity among samples ranged from 0 to 0.44. the highest similarity was established between Pleocnemia irregularis and Species C. Species of family Nephrolepidaceae showed 0.125 similarities whereas species of family Polypodiaceae showed 0 to 0.303 similarities. Among them, Drynaria quercifolia and Platycerium grande are the most similar with 0.303 similarities. Platycerium grande and Microsorium punctatum revealed 0.200 similarites. D. quercifolia and M. punctatum revealed 0.138 similarities while the rest of the species in the family revealed zero similarities. Species of family Ptedaceae revealed zero similarities while among the unidentified species, C and D are the most similar with 0.200 similarities. The relatively low similarity values detected in this analysis disclosed a high level of genetic variation among the twenty-one fern species. The dendograms generated by the two phylogenetic reconstructions used (PARS and UPGMA) were comparable in terms of clustering characteristics. First, that the twenty-one fern species investigated were subdivided into two large groups, with Sphenomeris chinensis forming the basal lineage, leaving the rest of the fern species in the apical lineage. Second, that D. quercifolia, M. punctatum, and P. grande were the most related species of family Polypodiaceae. Third, that species B, sphaerostephanos unitus, and Pyrossia adnascens, P. piloselloides and Species D; and P. irregularis and Species C are closely related species