GENETIC-VARIABILITY AND PARENTAGE IN MACROCYSTIS-PYRIFERA (PHAEOPHYCEAE) USING MULTILOCUS DNA-FINGERPRINTING

Multi-locus DNA fingerprints using an M13 probe were obtained for two individuals of Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. collected from Montere y Bay, California, and their laboratory-reared offspring. DNA was extr acted from each of two field-collected individuals (= parents), their self-fertilized diploid offspring (three and seven individuals), and o ne diploid individual resulting from spores of the two parents. A tota l of 20 bands (4-19 kb) was detected among all individuals, ranging fr om 7 to 24 bands for any one individual. Two bands were present in all individuals, and three bands were unique to one parent and its three progeny. Ten bands were observed in the outcrossed individual, of whic h three were inherited from one parent, two from the other parent, and five were present in both parents. Genetic similarity between each pa rent and their self-fertilized offspring was significantly higher than similarity between the two self-fertilized groups. The data show that multi-locus DNA fingerprints can be used to assess parentage in the g iant kelp and that there is consistent agreement between genetic simil arity and known genetic relatedness among parents and offspring.