Identification of a Genome-specific RAPD Marker to Freesia corymbosa (Burm. f.) N. E. Br. among Freesia Cultivars (F. hybrida hort.) to Detect their Lineage

Abstract

A RAPD marker genome-specific to pink-flowered Freesia corymbosa (Burm. f.) N. E. Br., which was generated by using OPG-12 primer, is a DNA fragment with 837 bp nucleotide sequence. A pair of primers were also designed for generating a 637 bp SCAR marker. Both RAPD and SCAR markers were detected in all three accessions of Freesia corymbosa and absent in 32 accessions of eight Freesia species tested. The markers were detected in most cultivars having red, pink, blue, purple and violet perianths, which support our hypothesis that pinkishtone perianth color of freesia cultivars originated from the pink-flowered Freesia corymbosa. However, a SCAR band at 637 bp appeared in some yellow- and white-flowered cultivars. The lineage of freesia cultivars is discussed.