Vol. 74 No: 2

Title:
Estimating the genetic relationships of Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis (Burm. f.) Hensch) cultivated in Australia, using random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs)

Authors:
MEI LIE and D.J. MIDMORE

pp: 224-231

Abstract:
Chinese water chestnut is a crop new to Australia. To establish a reputable industry, the influence of both genotype and environment on yield and quality need to be evaluated. To that end, the genetic relationships of cultivated Chinese water chestnut in Australia were investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Initial problems with inhibition of RAPD reactions were solved by precipitation of polysaccharides with 1 M NaCl and the subsequent addition of 0.4 mg μl^-1 bovine serum albumin (BSA) in RAPD reactions. Nearly all DNA extracts from then onwards were RAPD-amplifiable. Ninety-six RAPD markers generated by 14 primers separated the samples from Taiwan (cv. Shu-Lin), Hangzhou of mainland China (cv. Da Hong Pao), New South Wales of Australia (unknown cv.) and the USA (unknown cv.) from the remainder of the samples from Australia. These remainingn samples were too closely related to be differentiated. The dissimilarity observed between these remaining samples (0.78-4.4%) may be due more to scoring errors of undetectable bands and sampling error rather than to real genetic variation. It is therefore suggested that the observed morphological and physiological variations in Chinese water chestnuts produced in Australia (e.g. corm sweetness) are phenotypic and reflect the differences of environment and cultivation rather than genetic diversity.

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