Evaluation of genetic diversity of poplar genotypes by RAPD and AP-PCR analysis

RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) and AP-PCR (arbitrarily primed PCR) were utilized to establish the genetic diversity of 19 Populus genotypes. A set of 40 primers of random sequence was tested, of which 35 exhibited polymorphism. Eighteen primers generated 162 easily detectable bands between 250 and 2,500 base pairs in size, sufficient to distinguish between the genotypes. Similarity measures, cluster and multidimensional scaling analysis were performed to evaluate the RAPD and AP-PCR data. Our study demonstrated that in most instances similarity in the RAPD and AP-PCR banding patterns reflected the relationship due to origin. Nineteen primers gave a species or hybrid-specific pattern. One primer generated a specific pattern in P. euramericana. Ten primers produced specific fragments in VIF (P. alba), 4 primers in KOR (P. pyramidialis x P. berolinensis) and 4 primers in UNA and RAS (P. trichocarpa x P. deltoides). The results of this study demonstrated that RAPD or AP-PCR can be used to distinguish between poplar genotypes.