RFLP and RAPD mapping in flax (Linum usitatissimum)

A map of flax (Linum usitatissimum) using restriction fragment length polym orphisms (RFLPs) and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), and compris ing 15 linkage groups containing 94 markers, has been developed covering ab out 1000 cM. The mapping populations were the F-2 populations from two cros ses between diverse cultivars. From one cross, CI1303 and Stormont Cirrus, 20 RFLP and 520 RAPD markers were analyzed. Thirteen RFLP and 80 RAPD marke rs were on the 15 linkage groups, in addition to one sequence-tagged site ( STS). Seven polymorphic RAPD markers were found to have unusual segregation patterns. RAPDs were expressed as dominant markers, but for these markers a prevalence of the progeny lacked a band rather than the expected one-four th ratio. However, these exceptions may be related to the instability of th e genome of Stormont Cirrus in which stable and heritable genomic changes c an be induced by environmental factors. The current map could be used for t he identification of markers linked to loci controlling the ability to gene rate heritable changes in response to environmental growth conditions, and to develop anchor loci with STSs for a more general application.