RAPD VARIATION IN POPULATIONS OF CARDAMINE LILACINA (BRASSICACEAE)

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of DNA samples clearl y distinguished between Cardamine hirsuta L. and two variants of Carda mine lilacina Hook. found in Australia. Cardamine hirsuta, a recent im migrant, was less variable than C. lilacina, robust alpine snow-patch variant (C. lilacina-RASPV), which is an endemic plant that grows in t hree distinct regions in the Kosciusko alpine area and C. lilacina, in termedia variant (C. lilacina-IV), which is an endemic plant that is w idespread in the same area. Comparison of RAPDs showed that, in the po pulations of C. lilacina-RASPV, some plants found near each other were closely related, but there was no detectable larger scale population structure. It is most likely that the present populations of C. lilaci na-RASPV are relies of a single larger heterogeneous population. Carda mine lilacina-RASPV is the only known natural host of turnip yellow mo saic tymovirus in Australia. Although in this study RAPD analysis did not indicate whether the host plant variation is influencing the varia bility of populations of this virus it did provide an understanding of the genetic relationships in these populations of C. lilacina.