TBP-assisted species and hybrid identification in the genus Passiflora

We used the tubulin-based-polymorphism (TBP) method to analyze 45 different species and interspecific hybrids of the genus Passiflora. With regard to genetic characterization, the TBP method is a convenient, fast, simple and reliable tool for assigning a specific polymorphic pattern (i.e., molecular fingerprint) to each of the species and hybrids analyzed. In the case of hybrids, an accurate, easy and immediate recognition of parental contribution is an additional benefit of the TBP method. Molecular data collected using the TBP marker system resulted in a classification of the species of Passiflora that is fully consistent with previous studies performed with a variety of nuclear and chloroplast markers. Similar to those molecular studies, the TBP phylogenetic classification of the various species differs from that obtained using the more restricted number of morphological markers. Overall, this outcome indicates the limited value of these descriptors with respect to genomic diversity when discriminating among different species of Passiflora.