DETERMINATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY WITHIN BRAZILIAN SOYBEAN GERMPLASMUSING RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA TECHNIQUES AND COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS WITH PEDIGREE DATA

We used the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique to evalu ate genetic diversity among 38 Brazilian soybean (Glycine max L. Merri ll) cultivars. The analysis allowed the separation of tile cultivars i nto five distinct groups based on the genetic distances among them. Co mparison between these results and pedigree data were coherent for mos t cases. The data confirmed the use of the RAPD technique as a potent tool to aid the study of genetic diversity among individuals of the sa me species and should allow Brazilian soybean breeders a more rational choice of progenitors to be used in specific breeding programs.