Evaluation of genetic diversity in 19 Glycine max (L.) Merr. accessions included in the Czech National Collection of soybean genotypes

Abstract

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to evaluate both genetic diversity among 19 soybean accessions included in the Czech National Collection of Soybean Genotypes and their potential as a new source of genetic variations for soybean breeding programs. Only 22 of all the 40 random primers used in RAPD reactions showed polymorphism acceptable for an effective characterisation of these accessions. Altogether 122 highly reproducible RAPD fragments were generated, 55 of them were polymorphic (46%). However, because of the previously observed low degree of RAPD polymorphism in the case of Glycine max, fragments with low level of informativeness were evaluated, too. Presented results enable the selection of genetically distinct individuals. Such information may be useful to breeders willing to use genetically diverse introductions in soybean improvement process.