ABSTRACT

Betle (Piper betle L) leaves are used by the people for over centuries. The immense influences of the eastern culture and the traditional myths have kept the Betle in a sacred place. The cultural practices and using the Betle as a chewing quid make the betle one of the most essential leaves. Therefore, people used to insist on Betle leaves and tried to treat the Betle in a sacred manner.

In Sri Lanka Betle is widely cultivating and has a significant place in export market. Farmers are facing two types of major problems. They are marketing problems and disease problems especially by Xanthomonas compestris pv Betlicola currently there are no resistant varieties for the disease and it is the greatest drawback for this venture. And if resistant variety can be produced, this can be minimized.

Betle leaves have special chemical components, which has proven ability of controlling microbes, especially in human oral cavity. Is Sri Lanka, there are different Betle types and some other related species. There is no comprehensive study to identify characters and to use these germplasm especially in finding highly performing variety. Therefore, this study was done to collect available germplasm within and related to Piper betle to carry out a morphological classification analysis to analyze DNA level polymorphism to find out resistance to above-mentioned pathogen. Finally, correlate the resistance with DNA polymorphism. This is specially done as a key foundation for future molecular breeding programme.

Oral microbial activity of Betle extract was also evaluated. This was done as a key foundation for future antimicrobial products. DNA was extracted from Betle leaves according to CTAB method with two modification. All morphological polymorphic characters were recorded and evaluated. Antimicrobial activity against amoxicillin was tested.

 CTAB procedure can be comprehensively used for Betle DNA extraction. Morphological classification showed greater variation within evaluated germplasm. Betle extract has a promising anti microbial activity. Study has to be conducted for the steps evaluating DNA polymorphism and clearing disease resistance.