INHERITANCE OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS AND RAPD MARKERS IN INTERSUBGENERIC HYBRIDS OF AZALEA, (RHODODENDRON-KIUSIANUM MAKINO X R-INDICUM (L) SWEET) X R-JAPONICUM (GRAY,A) SURINGER-F-FLAVUM NAKAI

The inheritance of morphological characters and RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) markers among the intersubgeneric hybrids of (Rhodod endron kiusianum Makino x R. indicum (L.) Sweet) x R. japonicum (A. Gr ay) Suringer f. flavum Nakai was investigated to clarify the usefulnes s bf RAPD markers in the breeding program of yellow-flowered evergreen azalea (Akabane, 1993). Tree forms of the hybrids were similar to R. japonicum f. flavum. Leaf morphology of the hybrids was intermediate t o that of the parents. Microscopic observation of foliar trichomes rev ealed that all the hybrids had long hairs similar to those of R. japon icum f. flavum. The short hair trait of R. japonicum f. flavum. was ob served in some hybrids. The degree of defoliation in winter varied amo ng the hybrids. Seven out of 16 primers, generated a total of 28 RAPD bands. The hybrids and their parents could be distinguished by band pa tterns. Inheritance of RAPD bands was confirmed by Southern hybridizat ion. Variations in morphology and polymorphisms of RAPD pattern among the hybrids were attributed to the heterozygosity and the phylogenetic distance between the parental species. The hybrids that had more pate rnal RAPD bands tended to exhibit more patrilineal morphological chara cters. This suggests that some RAPD markers and morphological characte rs may be linked.