USE OF RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD) MARKERS IN THE STUDY OF THE PARASITIC WEED OROBANCHE

Despite the tremendous economic impact of broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) on agriculture in many countries little is known of the pattern of gen etic variation within this group of parasitic weeds. The present paper describes the use of RAPD markers for the study of five Orobanche spe cies in agricultural fields in Israel. Pronounced genetic differentiat ion was found between the species, and RAPD markers were raised for th e identification of each of them. Southern-hybridization patterns of R APD products of the various species were used to confirm the interpret ation. The same markers were valid both for broomrapes collected in ag ricultural fields and for those collected in natural habitats. The val idity of the markers found for O. cumana and O. crenata was confirmed on plants of the same species that were collected in Spain. Parsimony analysis of 86 RAPD characters produced a tree that clearly distinguis hes between the five studied Orobanche species, separates the two Orob anche species belonging to sect. Trionychon from those belonging to se ct. Osproleon, and supports the separation of O. cumana from O. cernua and of O. aegyptiaca from O. ramosa.