DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF) Identifies Closely Related Cultivars in Six Series of Chrysanthemum

The genetic distance of closely related cultivars of Dendranthema grandiflora (chrysanthemum) was assess using DAF. Twenty-three cultivars of chrysanthemum included in the study were members of the following series: Anne (3), Blush (3), Boaldi (4), Charm (5), Davis (4), and Pomona (4). The genetic variability within and between series were evaluated using 11 arbitrary octamer primers. A few polymorphic loci were evident that uniquely identified closely related cultivars within a series. In contrast, many polymorphisms were observed between members of different series. Genetic distances between cultivars within and between series were evaluated using marker comparison and analyzed with PAUP (phylogenic analysis using parsimony) and UPGMA (unweighted pair group cluster analysis using arithmetic means). The average distance between series was 10-fold greater than between cultivars within a series. Furthermore, series with similar flower morphology, pompon or daisy-like, were more closely related than those with different phenotypes. DNA from all cultivars belonging to a series were also bulked to generate DNA profiles containing unique amplified products for each series. Polymorphic loci that were generated by the DAF technique can possibly be used for patent protection and phylogenetic studies, and may be useful in breeding chrysanthemums.

DNA AMPLIFICATION FINGERPRINTING (DAF) IDENTIFIES CLOSELY RELATED CULTIVARS IN THREE SERIES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS

The genetic distance of closely related cultivars of Dendranthema grandiflora (chrysanthemum) was assessed using DAF. Thirteen cultivars of chrysanthemum included in the study were members of the following series: Charm (five), Davis (four), and Pomona (four). The genetic variability within and between series were evaluated using 11 arbitrary octamer primers. A few polymorphic loci were evident that uniquely identified closely related cultivars within a series. In contrast, there were many polymorphisms between members of different series. Genetic distances between cultivars within and between series were calculated using marker comparison and UPGMA (cluster analysis). The average distance between series was 10-fold greater than between cultivars within a series. DNA from all cultivars belonging to a series also were bulked to generate DNA profiles containing unique amplified products for each series. Polymorphic loci that were generated by the DAF technique possibly could be used for patent protection and phylogenetic studies and may be useful in breeding for chrysanthemums.