Abstract: Objective To investigate the DNApolymorphism of Penicillium marneffei(PM)and to provide an evidence for PM classification.Methods Total DNA was extracted with benzyl chloride.Random amplification polymorphic DNA(RAPD)assay was used to study the finger-printing of 12 strains Penicillium marneffei.Results ①Of forty randomprimers used,four of them:P₂₃:5'-AGTCAGCCAC-3',P₁₀₃:5'-AGACGTCCAC-3',P₁₀₅:5'-AGTCGTCCCC-3',P₁₂₀:5'-GGGAGACATC-3' gave good reactio n.②The major bands of DNA patterns of the 12 strains were of the same mobility.The amplified bands were polymorphic.The similarities were in the range of 44.4%-97.3%.③12 strains could be divided into 5 groups.Conclusion RAPD may be applied in PMDNA classification.

Key words: Penicillium, Random amplified polymorphic DNA technique