Differential Expression and Genetic Diversity Analysis Using Alpha Esterase Isozyme Marker in Ocimum sanctum L

Isozymes are enzymes with different molecular forms due to the differences in amino acid residues and exhibits same catalytic activity. Isozymes were also reported as biochemical genetic markers and widely used to study genetic diversity in plants. Differential expression of isozymes has attributed with different developmental stages, tissue specificity, stress factors etc. Accordingly, the expression of isozymes could be differed with specific tissues, or environment with circadian rhythm of the particular genotype and widely used to analyze the genetic diversity at intraspecies, interspecies and interspecific hybrid levels. Thus, the isozyme analysis was carried out in Ocimum sanctum, which possess several medicinal properties. The isozyme esterase is involved in esterification during the metabolism of plants. In this research paper, the activity of an Isozyme alpha esterase in different tissues of Ocimum sanctum is reported. The analysis revealed that the expression of alpha esterase is predominated in leaves rather than other parts of this species. About eight genotypes have been analyzed and most of them were shown the expression of this isozyme in leaves rather than shoots and roots, still few genotypes were observed with the expression in shoots. The genetic diversity of this species was subsequently analyzed from selected aforementioned varieties and reported.