Identification and Genetic Diversity of Korean Tomato Cultivars by RAPD Markers

Cultivated tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum, is a very important crop. We selected 36 cultivars and studied them for identification and polymorphism by employing random amplified DNA (RAPD) analysis with 80 oligonucleotide primers. Of the 80 primers, 36 primers (45.0%) were polymorphic. Detection of polymorphism in cultivated tomato opens up the possibility of development of its molecular map by judicious selection of genotypes. Molecular markers can also be used for cultivar identification and protection of the plant breeder’s intellectual property rights (plant breeders’ rights, PBRs). As an example, DNA polymorphism using OPC-13 primer that did not produce the OPC-13-01 band was only found in Junk Pink and Ailsa Craighp cultivars. OPA-12-03 and OPB-15-07 were fragments specific to the TK-70 cultivar and were absent in other cultivars. DNA polymorphism in cultivated tomato in this study was correlated with a type of inflorescence, although some cultivars had exceptions. These approaches will be useful for developing marker-assisted selection tools for genetic enhancement of the tomato plant for desirable traits.