Potential taxonomic use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD): a case study in Brassica.

The potential use of RAPDs for taxonomic studies were investigated using Brassica, Sinapis and Raphanus taxa. Principal coordinate analysis of 284 RAPD bands revealed the classical U triangle relationship between diploid and amphidiploid Brassica taxa. Raphanus sativus and S. alba were distinct from the Brassica taxa. It appears that at least ten primers with approximately 100 total bands are needed to adequately portray these relationships. Cultivars of cabbage and cauliflower were separated by RAPDs. Analysis of RAPDs from individual plants of B. carinata cv. dodola resulted in 69 RAPDs, with 91.7% monomorphic and 8.3% polymorphic bands. RAPDs appear to be useful for taxonomic studies at levels ranging from populations to species and perhaps genera.