PATERNAL INHERITANCE OF CHLOROPLAST DNA AND MATERNAL INHERITANCE OF MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA IN THE GENUS ACTINIDIA

PCR amplification of four chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and two mitochondria l DNA (mtDNA) regions followed by restriction of the amplified product s was used to identify restriction fragment length polymorphisms in 21 Actinidia taxa. Subsequently, the mode of organelle inheritance was i nvestigated in both interspecific and intraspecific controlled crosses made between genotypes showing different cpDNA and/or mtDNA haplotype s. Fifty-six seedlings produced from three interspecific crosses, incl uding in one case the pseudo reciprocal (different genotypes of the sa me species used as opposite parents), were checked for cpDNA inheritan ce, and 102 seedlings from the same interspecific crosses and 32 seedl ings from two intraspecific crosses within the species A. deliciosa we re checked for mtDNA inheritance. In all cases, cpDNA was inherited fr om the father and mtDNA was inherited from the mother. Maternal inheri tance of mtDNA was expected, being the rule in plants, but A. delicios a is the first genus in angiosperms for which a widespread and strictl y paternal inheritance of cpDNA has been reported. Transmission of chl oroplastic and mitochondrial genomes through opposite parents provides an exceptional opportunity for studying the paternal and maternal gen etic lineages of species in the genus Actinidia.