RAPD POLYMORPHISMS IN AEGILOPS-GENICULATA ROTH (AEGILOPS-OVATA AUCT NON L)

Genetic diversity of eighteen accessions of Ae. geniculata (2n = 28; U UMM) was assessed using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) te chnique. We optimized RAPD conditions including the template DNA, the concentration of AmpliTaq DNA polymerase Stoffel fragment, and MgCl2 c oncentration for revealing polymorphisms. Thirty-eight decamer oligonu cleotides were individually used as primers under optimized conditions . Seventeen of these primers produced polymorphic RAPDs among the 18 a ccessions of Ae. geniculata. Polymorphisms were recorded by noting pre sence or absence of an amplification product from the total genomic DN A. Comparisons of unique and shared amplification products of each pai r of accessions were used to generate genetic similarity coefficients (GSCs). These GSCs were used to construct a phenogram using an unweigh ted pair-group method with arithmetical averages (UPGMA). The phenogra m shows that RAPD data is useful in the measurement of genetic variati on or similarity within a species. It also indicates that we can selec t eight or nine accessions of the eighteen accessions to maintain at l east 80% genetic variability of the Chinese collection of Ae. genicula ta.