RAPD-PCR AMPLIFICATION OF SOYBEAN DNA USING PAIRWISE COMBINATIONS OF PRIMERS

In order to increase the number of detectable polymorphisms for the co nstruction of a RAPD-PCR based intraspecific soybean genetic map, two primers were used at a time, instead of only one. The DNA patterns obt ained with each combination of primers were analyzed for intensity and number of bands, as well as for reproducibility. DNA samples of two s oybean progenitors were tested initially with 72 random primers and 36 random pairwise combinations of these primers. Polymorphic fragments generated with the combinations of primers segregated 3 to 1 in an F-2 population of 68 individuals derived from these progenitors. Linkage analysis of some of the polymorphic bands revealed that they did not c o-segregate with bands generated with the isolated primers. Our data s how that pairwise combinations of primers can facilitate the detection of RAPDs.