COMPARISON OF RAPD AND MORPHO-NUT MARKERS FOR REVEALING GENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHESTNUT SPECIES (CASTANEA SPP.) AND NEW-ZEALAND CHESTNUT SELECTIONS

This study explored different character data sets (random amplified po lymorphic DNA (RAPD) and morpho-nut characters), techniques, and syste matic methodologies in an attempt to reconstruct the phylogenetic rela tionships and origins of New Zealand chestnut (Castanea spp.) selectio ns. The study was prompted by confusion regarding the relationships of New Zealand chestnut selections and the introduced chestnut species i n New Zealand. RAPDs demonstrated that C. dentata is not one of the pa rents of the chestnut selections and revealed that '1002' and '1007' c ould be a hybrid of C. mollissima and C. crenata species. A comparison of the trees from RAPD and morpho-nut characters showed that the tree s were significantly congruent. The groupings of the chestnut species and the New Zealand chestnut selections were based on their geographic locations. The study also demonstrated that most of the New Zealand c hestnut selections were not hybrids of C. sativa and C. crenata but ra ther most of the South Island selections were found to be C. sativa-li ke whereas many of the North Island selections were C. crenata-like. I t is suggested that both RAPD and morpho-nut approaches be used in com bination for the determination of the phylogeny of New Zealand chestnu ts.