Abstract
In this study we analyzed polymorphism at RAPD loci in an outbreeding species, spring turnip rape. The reproducibility of individual RAPD patterns was high when the DNA templates were of equal quality and quantity. It was possible to use both a rapid DNA extraction method and DNA extracted from a combined sample of ten individuals without losing any of the major fragments. When different cultivars were compared for RAPD pattern, most polymorphic loci exhibited differences only in allele frequency. However, we also found fragments which were amplified only from certain cultivars. It was concluded that RAPD markers provide a fast and reliable method for analyzing individuals and cultivars of turnip rape.
Highlights
Polymorphism is expressed at different taxonomic levels ranging from individuals to cultivars and species, and is exploited widely in plant breeding
The RAPD method is based on the amplification of random DNA fragments in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
A RAPD pattern or profile consists of all the DNA fragments amplified, and polymorphic fragments can be used as markers
Summary
Polymorphism is expressed at different taxonomic levels ranging from individuals to cultivars and species, and is exploited widely in plant breeding. Compared to the frequently used RFLP assay the recently developed RAPD method (Williams et al 1990, Welsh and McClelland 1990) is technically simple, non-radioactive, rapid and requires only small amounts of sample DNA, but is still capable of detecting extensive polymorphism. The RAPD method is based on the amplification of random DNA fragments in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
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