Assessment of the diversity of comfrey (Symphytum officinale L. and S. × uplandicum Nyman)

Abstract Comfrey Symphytum officinale L. (true comfrey) and S. × uplandicum Nyman (a hybrid between asperum Lepech L., Russian are used externally for the treatment of pain, inflammation swelling muscles joints in degenerative arthritis, acute myalgia, sprains, contusions strains after accidents. Besides plant secondary compounds associated with beneficial activities (e.g. rosmarinic acid allantoin) comfrey forms also toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). To improve further breeding study genetic relationships a collection, sample set 219 5 plants were analysed 34 SNP markers by KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR), developed from next generation sequencing approach three different individuals . In parallel, polyphenol acid, purine derivative allantoin, alkaloids. two compounds, 13 polyphenols 10 derivatives determined. The grouped into six distinct clusters. Rosmarinic was not linked to any clusters, while one cluster distinctively some amongst them allantoin globoidnan A. Also certain low content PA, which could become valuable gene pool minimizing PA breeding. A subset samples second year again where showed medium stability, completely unstable.