RAPD ANALYSIS ON THE CULTIVARS, STRAINS AND RELATED SPECIES OF CHINESE JUJUBE

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is a native fruit tree of China and has been introduced to more than 30 countries. It is becoming increasingly important for its wide adaptation, easy management, early bearing, rich nutrition, and multiple use. The genetic relationships between 27 cultivars, strains, and related species (Z. acidojujuba C.Y. Cheng et M.J. Liu. and Z. mauritiana Lam.) of Chinese jujube were studied using RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) technique. A total of 92 DNA bands were amplified with 15 primers screened from 80 arbitrary 10-mer primers, 77 of which (83.7%) were polymorphic. A dendrogram was constructed by AVERAGE method, in which 27 jujube samples were classified into 6 groups. The genetic relationships of some cultivars is discussed in comparison with earlier results basing on morphological characters, utilization, and distribution. In addition, RAPD fingerprints of 11 excellent strains of ‘Zanhuangdazao’ (a leading cultivar of Chinese jujube) were established using 5 primers. The S154-780bp band was regarded as a molecular marker linked to the stone-less character according to the study of 17 samples of two closely related groups, ‘Jinsixiaozao’ (with stone) and ‘Wuhexiaozao’(without stone) .

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