ASSESSING RELATIONSHIPS OF KUMARA CULTIVARS BY RAPD ANALYSIS

RAPD fingerprints were obtained for nine New Zealand kumara (Ipomoea b atatas, Convolvulaceae) cultivars including three identified as ''anci ent'' or ''pre-European'', two modern, and four reputedly derived from 19th century introductions. The banding patterns were analysed as a d istance matrix which was clustered using two procedures, and with the PAUP computer programme. The cultivars derived from the 19th century i ntroduction clustered in one group, a group which also included one mo dern cultivar. Two ancient cultivars were closely related to each othe r, but distant from the other ancient cultivar and the other groups, a result which is consistent with two separate, possibly pre-European l ines. The theoretical historical origin of each cultivar was supported .