Random amplified polymorphic DNA markers for three Japanese laminarian species

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was studied to detect genetic marke rs three economically important Japanese laminarian species, Laminaria japo nica-Areschoug, L. religiosa Miyabe and L. ochotensis Miyabe, which were sa mpled from their representative localities on the coasts from Tsugaru Strai ts to the Sea of Japan. DNA templates for RAPD were extracted from lamina u sing a DNA extraction kit and were purified with glassmilk. Reproducible RA PD markers for these three species were detected using three random primers from a total of 15 tested. In L. japonica and L. religiosa, these RAPD mar kers were confirmed to be useful for populations from other localities. The three species studied showed high intraspecific and interspecific band sha ring index (BSI) values. Like annual typical L. religiosa from other locali ties, biennial individuals identified as putative L. religiosa from Atsuta could be discriminated from L. japonica but not from L. ochotensis by any o f the RAPD genetic markers studied so far.