Distinguishing among Magnolia cultivars using fluorescent Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis

Abstract

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was used to generate informative DNA fingerprints from Magnolia denudata, M. liliiflora, and putative cultivars of their hybrid cross, i.e., M. x soulangeana, M. x soulangeana 'Lennei', M. x soulangeana 'Rustica Rubra', M. x soulangeana 'Alba', M. x soulangeana 'Ruby', and M. x soulangeana 'San Jose'. A single specimen of unknown origin and representatives of the closely related M. campbellii and M. stellata were also included in the analysis. We show how this method may be used for distinguishing among cultivars.