Ma. Gimenes et al., Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships based on RAPD analysis insection Caulorrhizae, genus Arachis (Leguminosae), EUPHYTICA, 116(3), 2000, pp. 187-195
Wild Arachis germplasm includes potential forage species, such as the rhizo
matous Arachis glabrata and the stoloniferous A. pinto and A. repens. Comme
rcial cultivars of A. pintoi have already been released in Australia and in
several Latin American countries, and most of these cultivars were derived
from a single accession of A. pintoi (GK 12787). Arachis repens is less pr
oductive as a forage plant than is A. pintoi. However, it can be crossed wi
th A. pintoi, and thus has good potential as germplasm for the improvement
of A. pintoi. Arachis repens is also used as an ornamental plant and ground
cover. Many new accessions of these two stoloniferous species are now avai
lable, and they harbor significant genetic variability beyond that availabl
e in the few older accessions, previously available. Therefore, these new a
ccessions need to be conserved, documented and considered in terms of their
potential for crop improvement and direct commercial use. Sixty-four acces
sions of this new germplasm were analyzed using RAPD analysis. Most of the
accessions of A. repens grouped together into a clearly distinct group. In
general, the accessions from the distinct valleys of the Jequitinhonha, Sao
Francisco and Parana rivers did not group together, suggesting there is no
t a tight relation between dispersion by rivers and the geographic distribu
tion of genetic variation in these species.