Distinction of Ozothamnus diosmifolius (Vent.) DC Genotypes Using RAPD

Abstract

An assessment was made to determine the suitability of RAPD analysis for identification of the Australian wildflower Ozothamnus diosmifolius (Vent.) DC [syn.Helichrysum diosmifolium (Vent.) Sweet] cultivars and lines. Of 19 arbitrary primer sequences tested, 16 revealed a high degree of polymorphism between the six most important genotypes with commercial significance, producing a total of 166 markers, of which 70% were polymorphic. Several primers (such as OPD-03 and OPM-07) were able to distinguish all tested genotypes from one another, showing an intracultivar consistency. These results indicate that RAPD analysis is a useful tool for establishing genetic diversity in this species as well as assisting in commercial protection of plant breeders’ rights.