Assessment of genetic diversity using RAPD analysis in a germplasm collection of sea buckthorn

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to characterize a part of a sea buckthorn gene bank collected for plant breeding purposes. M olecular markers were generated in 55 cultivars and accessions, representin g five subspecies of Hippophae rhamnoides L. and intraspecific hybrids betw een different subspecies. Sixty-three markers were used to generate a Dice' s similarity coefficient matrix of pairwise comparisons between individual RAPD profiles. Cluster (UPGMA) and principal co-ordinate analyses, based on this matrix, revealed clustering of plants into groups which generally cor respond to their taxonomic classification or geographic origin. The analysi s of molecular variance (AMOVA) was found useful for estimating components of genetic variation between and within taxonomic and geographic groups of accessions and cultivars. Whereas both alternatives for grouping the materi al (taxonomic or geographic origin) resulted in significant between-group v ariation, the major part of molecular variance (approximately 75%) was stil l attributed to variation within groups. We conclude that the RAPD analysis is useful for clarification of taxonomic and geographic origin of accessio ns and cultivars of sea buckthorn.