Genetic mapping in Eucalyptus urophylla and Eucalyptus grandis using RAPD markers

Two single-tree linkage maps were constructed for Eucalyptus urophylla and Eucalyptus grandis, based on the segregation of 480 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers in a F1 interspecific progeny. A mixture of three types of single-locus segregations were observed: 244 1:1 female, 211 1:1 male, and 25 markers common to both, segregating 3:1. Markers segregating in the 1:1 ratio (testcross loci) were used to establish separate maternal and paternal maps, while markers segregating in the 3:1 ratio were used to identify homology between linkage groups of the two species maps. An average of 2.8 polymorphic loci were mapped for each arbitrary decamer primer used in the polymerase chain reaction. The mean interval size beween framework markers on the maps was 14 cM. The maps comprised 269 markers covering 1331 cM and 236 markers covering 1415 cM, in 11 linkage groups, for E. urophylla (2n = 2x = 22) and E. grandis (2n = 2x = 22), respectively. A comparative mapping analysis with two other E. urophylla and E. grandis linkage maps showed that RAPDs could be reliable markers for establishing a consensus species map. RAPD markers were automatically and quantitatively scored with an imaging analyzer. They were classified into four categories based on their optical density. A fragment intensity threshold is proposed to optimize the selection of reliable RAPD markers for future mapping experiments. Key words : genetic linkage map, Eucalyptus urophylla, Eucalyptus grandis, random amplified polymorphic DNA, RAPD, automated data collection.