DISTINCTION OF OZOTHAMNUS-DIOSMIFOLIUS (VENT) DC GENOTYPES USING RAPD

An assessment was made to determine the suitability of RAPD analysis f or identification of the Australian wildflower Ozothamnus diosmifolius (Vent.) DC [syn. Helichrysum diosmifolium (Vent.) Sweet] cultivars an d lines. Of 19 arbitrary primer sequences tested, 16 revealed a high d egree of polymorphism between the six most important genotypes with co mmercial significance, producing a total of 166 markers, of which 70% were polymorphic. Several primers (such as OPD-03 and OPM-07) were abl e to distinguish all tested genotypes from one another, showing an int racultivar consistency. These results indicate that RAPD analysis is a useful tool for establishing genetic diversity in this species as wel l as assisting in commercial protection of plant breeders' rights.