RAPD analysis of somaclonal variants derived from embryo callus cultures of peach.

Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] regenerants from cv 'Sunhigh' embryo no. 156, regenerants obtained from cv 'Redhaven' embryo no. 30, and two peach cultivars 'Sunhigh' and 'Redhaven', were screened for polymorphic RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers with up to 60 10-mer primers. Although 35 primers produced results with scoreable bands, only 10 of the primers revealed polymorphism for regenerants of embryo no. 156 and cv 'Sunhigh', and 1 revealed a low level of polymorphism for regenerants of embryo no. 30 and cv 'Redhaven'. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using RAPD markers to identify somaclonal variants of peach and provides evidence for the existence of genetic differences among these variants.