THE USE OF RANDOMLY AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD) FOR THE STUDY OF GENETIC DIVERSITY AND SOMACLONAL VARIATION IN MUSA

We have used randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to assess genetic variability among wild species of Musa and cultivars of dessert (M. acuminata group AAA) and cooking (M. acuminata x M. balbisiana groups AAB, ABB; M. balbisiana group BBB) bananas.
The polymorphism found allows the identification of different species and genomic groups.
Within the Cavendish subgroup no consistent polymorphism was detected.

This technique was also applied for the identification of height variants (extra-dwarf, dwarf and giant) originated from in-vitro cultures of ‘Grande Naine’ and ‘Petite Naine’ cultivars.
Some polymorphisms detected with specific primers could be used for an early detection of dwarf variants.
With these same primers, variation among true-to-type in vitro propagated ‘Grande Naine’ plantlets was also detected.

II International Symposium on Banana: I International Symposium on Banana in the Subtropics

M. Grajal-Martín, G. Siverio-Grillo, A. Marrero-Domínguez

Molecular markers, off-types, banana, plantain, Cavendish

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.490.46