Medicinal & Aromatic Plants
Open Access

Abstract

Genetic Diversity of Cunila Incisa Benth. (Lamiaceae)

Gustavo Agostini, Tatiana Teixeira de Souza-Chies and Sergio Echeverrigaray

Cunila incisa is a perennial shrub with 1-2 m high with ramified branches. This highly aromatic species is commonly used in south brazilian folk medicine, growing wild at the margins of the forest in the highlands. Based on the medicinal and aromatic potential of this species the aim of this survey was to examine the genetic variation within and among populations. In this context, 13 C. incisa populations collected in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were analyzed by RAPD.Cluster analysis afforded to discriminate populations under three groups. The C. incisa populations presented low intrapopulational variability, indicating that the populations form distinct genetic pools possible due to founder effects and low interpopulation gene flow.