Characteristics of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers discriminating Helianthus annuus inbred lines

Abstract

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to discriminate between inbred lines of the sunflower Helianthus annuus. By testing one hundred 10-mer primers with DNAs from 4 lines, we obtained 40 primers showing polymorphism in at least one line. After selection of primers giving reproducible signals, 14 RAPD markers allowing the characterization of inbred lines of sunflower were obtained. Molecular studies of amplified fragments show that these markers are of the "presence/absence" type: a locus is characterized by 1 band for a line and by the lack of band for the other lines. Southern experiments with polymorphic RAPD fragments as probes gave smears as hybrization signals, indicating that the amplified fragments probably include highly repeated sequences. © 1994.