DNA PROFILING AND PLANT VARIETY REGISTRATION .1. THE USE OF RANDOM AMPLIFIED DNA POLYMORPHISMS TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN VARIETIES OF OILSEEDRAPE

Before they can be marketed in the UK, newly bred varieties of crop sp ecies have to undergo a process of statutory testing, part of which in volves the examination of the distinctness uniformity and stability (D US) of the variety. DUS testing is also used as the basis for the awar d of Plant Breeders' Rights. This paper examines the potential of DNA polymorphisms, amplified using arbitrary. primers (RAPDs) for use in D US testing of varieties of oilseed rape. RAPDs, using suitable primers can produce high levels of discrimination (> 95%) between varieties, although there are certain problems in gel 'scoring' that are only par tially resolved by computerised gel scanning/evaluation techniques. Va rieties of oilseed rape are also heterogeneous in their RAPD profiles using certain primers, which could cause problems in the DUS testing c ontext. DNA profiling with RAPDs could be used for discrimination betw een and identification of oilseed rape varieties. bur its use for DUS testing needs to be considered carefully.