DISCRIMINATION OF RUBUS CULTIVARS USING RAPD MARKERS AND PEDIGREE ANALYSIS

Few studies with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers have focused on blackberry genotypes. In this study we attempted to differentiate several blackberry and raspberry cultivars for genetic identification by pedigree and RAPD analyses. Rubus allegheniensis was present in 14 of 16 cultivars and had a mean genetic contribution of 15.9%. The cultivar 'Brewer' and R. argutus were also recurrent founding clones. The raspberry cultivars in this study ('Dormanred' and 'Heritage') participated as the outlier group and were identified as such in relation to the blackberry cultivars both in terms of RAPD and pedigree analysis. One hundred fifty-seven RAPD loci were used to identify 10 of 16 genotypes with unique banding patterns. Blackberries averaged 55% similarity amongst themselves, and 22% to raspberries. Overall, pedigree and RAPD data should be interpreted separately, with the RAPD data likely being more reliable.