Phylogenetic relationships of industrial chicory varieties revealed by RAPDs and AFLPs

Abstract

Seventeen industrial chicory varieties were subjected to molecular marker analysis revealing genetic variation within varieties and genetic relationships between varieties. Banding profiles from 66 RAPD loci (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and 171 AFLP loci (amplified fragment length polymorphism) were produced with total genomic chicory DNA of leaf bulks from four to eight plants per variety. The DICE similarity index was calculated and transformed to genetic distances for construction of phylogenetic trees. We found that there was no clear and strict grouping of the varieties. Genetic distances were nearly the same between all varieties. Marker analysis of individual plants of the variety Fredonia revealed a considerable degree of intravarietal variation typical for open pollinated varieties. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) among the root chicory varieties distant phylogenetic groups do not exist or formerly existing groups were eroded by successive intercrosses; 2) potentially existing phylogenetic or heterotic group structures are concealed by the high within population genetic variability; 3) the selection/breeding intensities were low during the last decades; and (4) the high degree of genetic variability can be used for selecting superior genotypes from already existing varieties by mass selection.