THE USE OF RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD) MARKERS FOR THE STUDY OF TAXONOMICAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SPECIES OF ASPHODELUS SECT VERINEA (ASPHODELACEAE)

RAPD analysis was applied to the three species of Asphodelus sect. Ver inea (Pomel) Boissier (Asphodelaceae): Asphodelus fistulosus L., A. ay ardii Jahand. & Maire, and A. tenuifolius Cav. Fifteen populations, fi ve per species, were used and eight primers were sampled. A total of 9 7 amplification products were generated, and 4-12 polymorphic products per primer were obtained. Several specific RAPD markers were detected for A. ayardii and A. tenuifolius, while only two for A. fistulosus, which shares most amplification products with the two former species. Results that reinforce the specific status of the three taxa are shown . Asphodelus tenuifolius showed the highest interpopulation variabilit y in agreement with the high specialization of other characters in thi s species. In accordance with these results, an amphidiploid origin fo r A. fistulosus, with the participation of A. ayardii and A. tenuifoli us, is suggested.