RAPD Analysis Of Genetic Variation Of Barley Varieties In China

Genetic variation is the basis for genetic improvement and plantbreeding. This study aimed to estimate the genetic variation by RAPD technique among 67 barley varieties, many of which derived from Zhejiang-Jiangsu zone. The results are as follows: 200 arbitrary primers (10-mers) were used for the PCR amplification of random genetic DNA fragments. 30 of the primers could amplify polymorphic bands. Out of 223 amplified bands, 130 are polymorphic. Every primer could amplify 2 to 9 polymorphic bands, with an average of 4. 19 bands. The value of phenotypic diversity of naked barley varieties was higher than that of hulled barley varieties. The lowest value of phenotypic diversity was determined to be 2-rowed hulled barley varieties. Cluster analysis showed that the studied varieties could be classified into 4 clusters at the level of D 0. 6, which evidently reflect variation in geographical distribution and important traits of barley. 4 of the 30 primers detected four closely related 2-rowed malting cultivars. Each cultivar could be distinguished from another. The SDs (standard deviations) and CVs (coefficients of variation) of genetic distances at different number of polymorphisms were analyzed, the number of polymorphic sites used in this paper were sufficient for the purpose of genetic evaluation in these barley populations.