Mk. Ko et al., GENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS OF VIOLA SPECIES EVALUATED BY RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA ANALYSIS, Journal of horticultural science & biotechnology, 73(5), 1998, pp. 601-605
The genetic relationships of Viola species in the subsection Patellare
s were analysed using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) meth
od. Viola species from the series Chinensis and Pinnatae, and five hyb
rid lines formed a cluster which divided into three subgroups. Viola s
pecies in the series Variegatae and a hybrid line were clustered into
a second group. The clustered (sub)groups from RAPD analysis are in ag
reement with the conventional taxonomy based on morphological characte
rs. Therefore, RAPD analysis can be used for providing an alternative
classification system to identify genotypes and morphological characte
rs of Viola species. However, although V. chaerophylloides, and V albi
da and V. albida var. takahasii were classified into different series,
Pinnatae and Chinensis, by morphological characters, they were cluste
red together with a high similarity coefficient by RAPD analysis. Ther
efore, we suggest that these species should be classified into Pinnata
e. Also, RAPD analysis was successfully applied to deduce putative par
ents for six unknown hybrid lines.