The genetic diversities of 4 species of subg. Lithocerasus (Prunus, Rosaceae) revealed by RAPD analysis

RAPD analysis was applied to reveal the genetic diversities of 4 species of subg. Lithocerasus within the genus Prunus using 40 accessions representin g the subgenera Prunophora, Amygdalus, Lithocerasus and Cerasus. The access ion of subg. Lithocerasus are phenotypically similar to members of subgenus Cerasus but different with them in interspecific crossing tests and isozym e profiles. Two major clusters, 'Prunophora and Amygdalus group' and 'Ceras us group' were constructed in the phenogram. We reveal that the examined 4 species of subg. Lithocerasus species; P. tomentosa Thunb., P. japonica Thu nb., P. glandulosa Thunb. and P. besseyi Bailey, were genetically closer to the members of subgenera Prunophora and Amygdalus than to subg. Cerasus.