DNA FINGERPRINTS IN PLANTS USING SIMPLE-SEQUENCE REPEAT AND MINISATELLITE PROBES

Plant genomes contain polymorphic repetitive sequences that can be use d as DNA markers. Minisatellites (16 to 64 bp per repeat) and simple-s equence repeats (2 to 6 bp per repeat) are the most polymorphic marker s found in plant and animal genomes. In this study, the hybridizations between genomic DNA and variable number of tandem repeat probes were examined in Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Heynn), onion (Allium cepa L.), t omato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), avoc ado (Persea americana Mill.), litchi (Chinensis Sonn.), mango (Mangife ra indica L.), and Carica species. Some of the probes detected polymor phic sequences in all the species, but others were useful only for one or two species. None of the probes gave clear band patterns in either onion or wheat. The in-gel hybridization method was similar to Southe rn blot hybridization using the simple-sequence repeat probes.