RAPD MARKERS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF POPULUS SPECIES

Twenty five poplar clones, namely, 5 of Populus nigra, 5 of P. deltoid es, 5 of P. alba, 5 of P. tremula, 1 of P. trichocarpa, 3 of P. x cane scens and 1 of clone ''Platero'' (P. tremula x P. alba ''Bolleana'') w ere screened for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers in or der to evaluate the use of RAPD analysis for distinguishing the cited species. One of the markers revealed different banding patterns betwee n species and similar banding patterns for clones of the same species. For hybrids such as P. x canescens and ''Platero'', the banding patte rn was the same as either P. alba or P. tremula. On the other hand, fo r other hybrids analysed, such as P. x euroamericana I-214 and P. delt oides x P. alba 7/32 B, the banding pattern differed from both parents . The mentioned marker showed characteristic bands for every species, and in the particular case of P. alba three different groups could be distinguished.