DETECTION OF VARIATION AMONG AND WITHIN ASPARAGUS HYBRIDS USING RANDOM AMPLIFIED DNA (RAPD) MARKERS

The reliability of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques to amplify polymorphisms in the asparagus (Asparagus officinallis L.) genome was investigated. DNA fragments generated by 10-base primers we re separated on 1.5% agarose or 8% polyacrylamide gels, and the sensit ivity of ethidium bromide and silver staining of amplified DNA product s analysed on these gels was compared. Resolution of DNA bands on poly acrylamide gels was superior to that on agarose gels. Silver staining was more sensitive than ethidium bromide staining. The gel type used t o separate DNA bands, and the staining technique used influenced the n umber of bands visualised for each DNA profile generated. The six aspa ragus cultivars used in this study were distinguished by unique bandin g patterns generated by each primer. OPC-12 for example generated poly morphic markers unique to three of the cultivars investigated. These m arkers were: ASP (500, 400, and 300 bp), TU (700 bp), and (PC 550 bp). Our investigation indicates that RAPD markers can be used to characte rise asparagus cultivars, and that the technique is sensitive enough t o reveal differences within seed-raised commercial cultivars. RAPD tec hnology has the potential to detect somaclonal variation occurring dur ing micropropagation.