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Musa L. (Musaceae) is currently separated into five sections (Musa, Rhodochlamys, Callimusa, Australimusa and Ingentimusa) based on chromosome numbers and morphological characters. However, the validation of this classification system is questioned due to the common occurrence of hybridizations across sections and the system not accommodating anomalous species. This study employed amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) in a phenetic examination of the relationships among four sections (material of sect. Ingentimusa was not available) to evaluate whether their genetic differences justify distinction into separate groups. Using eight primer combinations, a total of 276 bands was scored, of which 275 were polymorphic. Among the monomorphic bands, 11 unique markers were identified that revealed the distinct separation of the 11‐chromosome species from the 10‐chromosome species. AFLP results suggest that species of sect. Rhodochlamys should be combined into a single section with species of sect. Musa, and likewise for species of sect. Australimusa to be merged with those of sect. Callimusa.

Taxonomic and systematic studies of the woody bamboos are traditionally based on floral morphology, which can cause problems in identification due to the lack of, or infrequent, flowering. Limited studies have been conducted using molecular techniques to overcome this problem. In this study, we used amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) to conduct a study of four genera of bamboos (Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa andThyrsostachys ) in the subtribe Bambusinae. AFLP analysis using eight primer combinations was carried out on 15 species of bamboo. Results showed that AFLPs distinguish the different species by their unique banding patterns. Unique AFLPs were detected in 13 of the 15 species examined. The six Bambusa species examined separated into two clusters. The sixGigantochloa species studied formed a discrete cluster diverging from one of the Bambusa clusters, whileThyrsostachys was less similar to the Bambusa clusters. The similarity index between B. lako and G. atroviolacea was the highest, suggesting that B. lako is more appropriately included within the genusGigantochloa rather than the genus Bambusa. The two Dendrocalamus species examined were very different with D. brandisii clustering within one of the Bambusa clusters and D. giganteus appearing as a very distant species. These results support the contention that critical study of the genus Dendrocalamus is required. The use of AFLPs for identification of particular bamboo species, as well as for the study of relationships within the subtribe, will be useful for industrial purposes and for systematic studies.

Musa acuminata Colla (Musaceae), the wild progenitor of the cultivated banana, is highly variable in Malaysia and presents several unresolved nomenclatural problems. AFLP was employed to distinguish among three subspecies of Musa acuminata(subsp. truncata and subsp. malaccensis from peninsular Malaysia and subsp. microcarpa from Borneo) and to examine whether subsp. truncata is a distinct taxon. Eight primer combinations revealed molecular markers specific for each of the three taxa. UPGMA cluster analysis showed the three taxa were distinct. Subspecies malaccensis which is endemic in peninsular Malaysia and subsp. microcarpa which is endemic in Borneo were found to be more similar to each other in their DNA patterns than they are to subsp. truncata, which is endemic to peninsular Malaysia. Since subsp. truncata is genetically separate from subsp. malaccensis and subsp.microcarpa , it cannot be regarded as synonymous with either of these subspecies. This paper sheds light on the nomenclature of the three subspecies of Musa acuminata.