Development of an identification scheme for Canadian registered oat cultivars using RAPDs

DNA fingerprints for all 53 oat cultivars registered in Canada were generat ed using random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs). Repeatability and relia bility of the PCR-RAPD fingerprints were confirmed on up to 20 single seeds or seedlings, from breeders seed of five cultivars. An identification key was computer generated for the 53 cultivars. Twenty-nine potentially diagno stic bands were scored on the 53 cultivars to generate the key, but only 13 were found useful and sufficient by the computer generating key program. T he identification scheme lends itself to be online. Further research is req uired to complete the scheme for routine cultivar identification and verifi cation in Canada. The problems that need to be investigated are discussed.