Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers variability among cultivars and landraces of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of south-Brazil

To evaluate the variability among cultivars and landraces of common bean (P haseolus vulgaris L.), 15 cultivars and 18 landraces of common bean (Phaseo lus vulgaris L.), a undefined species of Phaseolus, two landraces of Vigna angularis L., and a landrace of soybean (Glycine max L.), were screened wit h fifteen oligonucleotide primers in PCR reactions. An average of 20.3 RAPD bands were scored per primer. A total of 304 amplification products were s cored of which 88.8% were polymorphic among Phaseolus genotypes. Based on t he RAPD markers, four major clusters were formed. Three clusters correspond ed to the soybean, to the two Vigna angularis landraces, and to the Phaseol us sp. landrace, respectively. The fourth cluster include all the landraces and cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris. This large group could be separated i nto three subgroups that were correlated with the phaseolin patterns and th e average seed weight of the genotypes. The analysis shows that most of the landraces collected in South Brazil (17 out of 18) belong to the Andean ge ne pool, and most of the cultivars (13 out of 15) belong to the Middle Amer ican gene pool.