Macro-,micromorphological characters and DNA fingerprinting markers have been used to differentiate the three
Ruprechtia C. A. Meyer species growing in Egypt (R. exelsa, R. polystachya, and R. salicifolia). Interestingly,
the macro- and micromorphological criteria of the vegetative organs showed no fundamental characters to
discriminate between the three examined species. However, the data obtained from the seed coat surface (using
LM and SEM) revealed some variability among the tested species. Seed coat surface was colliculate in (R.
excelsa), pusticulate in (R. polystachya) and reticulate–scalariform in R. salicifolia. Accordingly, the seed coat
surface can be used as a fundamental criterion to discriminate between the species of this study. The RAPD–
PCR electrophoretic profile, showed unique RAPD markers some of which were species-specific. Speciesspecific
markers were recorded by using primers OPA-01, OPA-02 and OPA-05 respectively. Two RAPD
markers specific to R. polystachya and R. salicifolia were recorded. The two markers for the former species have
a molecular size of 1800 and 2600 bp using primer OPA-01. While those specific to the latter species have a
molecular size of 300 and 400 bp using primers OPA-02. For R. excelsa, one specific RAPD marker was
recorded, it has a molecular size 800 bp using primer OPA-05. The RAPD markers may be considered as valid
criteria to discriminate between the three Ruprechtia species used in this investigation. However, the similarity
in the banding profile of RAPD-PCR and the morphological criteria justify the maintenance of the three species
in the same genus.