RAPD ANALYSIS OF GENETIC-VARIATION WITHIN AND AMONG POPULATIONS OF TURKS-CAP LILY (LILIUM MARTAGON L.)

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to estimate genetic variation within populations and relatedness among populations of Turk's-cap lily (Lilium martagon). Twelve domesticated populations from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Lithuania, and four native populatio ns from Lithuania (two pops), Switzerland and Italy were analysed with six decamer primers. The primers yielded a total of 55 polymorphic ba nds, i.e., an average of nine polymorphic bands per primer. The invest igated populations were surprisingly heterogeneous in spite of, in mos t cases, a restricted population size. Gene diversity values ranged be tween 0.15 (the native population from Switzerland) and 0.26 (one of t he domesticated Swedish populations). A significant correlation was, h owever, found between gene diversity and population size, and between gene diversity and sample size. On the whole, the domesticated populat ions did nor appear to be less variable than the native populations. C luster analyses and multidimensional sealing showed that one of the na tive Lithuanian populations was remarkably dissimilar to the remaining populations which in turn overlapped considerably. The native Italian population was quite similar to some of the Scandinavian populations.