DNA-FINGERPRINTING OF MUSA CULTIVARS WITH OLIGODEOXYRIBONUCLEOTIDE PROBES SPECIFIC FOR SIMPLE REPEAT MOTIFS

Using synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes against restriction-di gested genomic DNA, we have established DNA fingerprinting of Musa cul tivars. Of all the enzymes used, Eco RI and Hin dIII were found to be most informative, giving rise to individual specific band patterns wit h oligonucleotide probes of 15- to 18-base residues. Of the several pr obes and enzyme combinations used, the 15mer GACA probe with Eco RI an d Hin dIII digests revealed a maximal level of polymorphism, and the p robability of obtaining an identical band pattern between any two rand om genotypes was calculated to be 1.50 x 10(-9) and 1.59 x 10(-9) resp ectively. Oligonucleotide probes longer than 22 residues were also use d but did not hybridize. The present approach is useful for cultivar i dentification and for overall genome analysis to establish relatedness among the various accessions of the Musa germplasm originating from d ifferent geographic locations. The relevance of using synthetic oligon ucleotide probes based on simple repeat motifs for achieving DNA finge rprinting pattern is discussed.