NUMERICAL-ANALYSES OF RAPD DATA HIGHLIGHT THE ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED TAGASASTE (CHAMAECYTISUS-PROLIFERUS SSP PALMENSIS) IN THE CANARY-ISLANDS

Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to generate molecular markers to trace the origin of the fodder legume tagasaste (Chamaecyt isus proliferus (L. fil.) Link ssp. palmensis (H. Christ) Kunkel) in t he Canary Islands. Results from multivariate analyses of data through ''Two Way Indicator Species Analysis'' (TWINSPAN) and ''Detrended Corr espondence Analysis'' (DECORANA) showed that genotypes collected on th e island of La Palma exhibited a wider range of variation than those f rom the other islands. This supports the existing hypothesis that taga saste originated on La Palma and emphasizes the importance of conservi ng and evaluating germ plasm from this island.