DISTANT HYBRIDS AND THEIR VERIFICATION BY MEANS OF RAPD

In Poland, apart from Oriental lilies, Lilium longiflorum and its Asiatic hybrids, have become very popular. As a result of interspecific and intergroup hybridization, progeny plants may not always be hybrids. Embryos may be formed via apomixis and such seedlings contain the genetic material of the maternal form. Because apomixis can occur in Lilium regale, L. longiflorum, L. superbum and L. pumilum, confirmation that the obtained seedlings are hybrids is required. Studies identifying hybrids, based on DNA analysis began in the 1980’s. Molecular techniques, with the most popular one – RAPD, are used for identification. As a result of crossing Lilium longiflorum with ‘Connecticut King’, which is an Asiatic hybrid, progeny plants were obtained using embryo isolation method. The confirmation of their hybrid status was performed by RAPD, analysing DNA genotypes of two parental forms and six progeny plants. DNA was isolated from the leaves of young lilies growing in the greenhouse and 11 primers of 10-nucleotide sequences chosen at random, from LA pr 1 to LA pr 11 were used. Amplified markers by RAPD were separated on agar gel and visualized in UV light in the presence of ethidium bromide. Among evaluated genotypes five turned out to be hybrids and one had the same genotype as the maternal plant.