EVALUATION OF GENETIC-VARIABILITY AMONG COMMON BUCKWHEAT (FAGOPYRUM-ESCULENTUM MOENCH) POPULATIONS BY RAPD MARKERS

Genetic variability among 80 accessions of common buckwheat was evalua ted using random decamer primers in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) am plification of bulked DNA samples. Thirteen primers, previously chosen on the basis of the number and intensity of the fragments they produc ed, were used for amplification and yielded a total of 141 bands, of w hich 77 were polymorphic. An NTSYS-pc computer program was further emp loyed for data analysis using a simple matching coefficient of similar ity as a base for dendrogram construction via the UPGMA method. A mode rate level of polymorphism and relatively close relationships among th e studied common buckwheat populations were observed. The dendrogram s eparated accessions into European and Asian groups, with a number of a dditional clusters and some inconsistant populations from both regions . Clusters corresponded reasonably well to the geographical origins of examined populations, with some unexpected but interesting exceptions . The effectiveness of RAPD analysis of bulked DNA samples for the stu dy of genetic variability in common buckwheat was demonstrated, and th is approach seems very useful for identification and phylogenetic stud ies.