Comparison of unpredictable environmental variation generated by year and by seeding-time factors for measuring type 4 stability

Summary Type 4 stability has been proposed to measure a cultivar's homeostatic property to resist unpredictable environmental variation. The requirement for calculating this stability is that the experiment must contain a time factor in addition to the cultivar x location factors. Of the two time factors, year and seeding-time, the latter is less attractive biologically because it represents only a part of the broader context of unpredictable variation represented by years, but it is attractive in terms of shortening the test period. Investigation of historical data from the Eastern Cooperative trials and the Ontario Production trials in Canada indicates that the unpredictable variation generated by seeding-time was about half that generated by year. Although type 4 stability measured by both factors appears to be the same, the stability measured by seeding-time is more prone to variation. The implication is that complete substitution of the year factor by seeding-time is not appropriate, but use of both factors in combination may be sensible.Contribution No. C-055 from the Engineering and Statistical Research Centre, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0C6, Canada     

Assessment of a method for cultivar selection based on regional trial data

Summary In this study a method for analyzing regional trial data is investigated for its effectiveness in cultivar selection. The method is a synthesis of three procedures: (1) regression analysis for genotype × environment (GE) interaction, and subsequent cluster analysis for grouping cultivars for similarity of response; (2) superiority measure analysis of cultivar performance based on the distance mean square between the test cultivar and the maximum response; (3) type 4 stability analysis for three-way classification data (cultivar × location × year), to measure a cultivar's stability. Each of these three procedures is aimed at different aspects of the selection problem: the first obtains an overview of the types of cultivar response; the second measures a cultivar's general adaptability within the region; the third assesses a cultivar's ability to withstand unpredictable variation, namely that caused by year effects. Four sets of published data, each originally analyzed by a univariate or a multivariate approach, were used as examples. The results suggest that the present method provides direct and useful information for selection purposes. The superiority measure, which is the core of the method, can be used even if the data do not fit the linear model for GE interaction. Plotting the data with a fixed standard represented by the maximum response provides a simple visual tool for identifying environments where a cultivar performs well.Contribution No. C-035 from Research Program Service, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6     

Stability analysis of grain yield in barley (Hordeum vulgare) in the US mid-Atlantic Region

Stability of grain yield performance is an important characteristic in the selection of new crop cultivars. Information from cultivar trials, however, is seldom fully analysed for genotype by environment interactions and, therefore, information on stability of current crop cultivars is lacking. The objectives of this study were to investigate the stability of agronomic traits among genotypes of barley (Hordeum vulgare) across 17 environments (location‐years) in Maryland (USA) from 1994 through 1997 and to examine the effect of locations and years of testing on grain yield performance in this region. Significant differences were observed among barley cultivars and experimental lines for grain yield, plant height, and heading date. Grain yield was positively correlated with plant height and negatively correlated with heading date. Genotype x environment interactions measured through regression analysis were significant for grain yield, heading date and plant height, with the environmental component having the largest effect. Most barley genotypes tested (90%) had regression slopes for grain yield that did not differ from 1.0, indicating good potential for yield response under improving environmental conditions. The most widely grown cultivar in the mid‐Atlantic region, ‘Nomini’, had a regression slope that was higher than 1.0 for grain yield. This indicates that it tends to respond with increasingly higher yields under favorable conditions. In this study, the slope and the standard error of the slope were moderately correlated with grain yield. The genotype's coefficient of variation was not a good indicator of stability for this region. Grain yields of genotype entries common to all years and locations were correlated with corresponding yields at each of the locations and years to assess the relative performance of each location and year. Correlation coefficients across locations were relatively high (r=0.64) within each year of testing. Correlations between years for the same and across locations were generally much lower. The data presented here supports a testing program over more years rather than increased locations to fully characterise the performance of new cultivars.     

Cultivar x environment interactions in sorghum,Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench

Summary The most significant and important interactions in 2, and 3-year sorghum zonal trials were location x year, cultivar x location and cultivar x location x year. Cultivar x year interaction was significant in one out of four ecologic zones used in the trials. The variance components were relatively small with the second order interaction variance component larger than the first order types involving cultivars. Environmental variance was the largest in all four zones.Computations on theoretical standard error of cultivar means suggest that six replications, eight locations and four years is an ideal testing procedure in the Northern Guinea Savanna, while in the Sudan Savanna, the combination is better with four replications, eight locations and three years. The true value or performance of a variety is most effectively obtained by increasing the number of years, while increasing number of replications is the least effective.     

A comparative evaluation of two methods of selecting locations used for testing spring wheat cultivars

Summary One of the considerations of regional cultivar evaluation programs is to optimize the number of locations used for testing. Although optimization of numbers of locations using cluster analysis has been previously attempted, no objective comparison of methods has yet been made. A new clustering method that uses the pairwise contribution of locations to the cultivar x location mean square as the distance measure (LB) was compared to another method that employs diallel correlations as the distance measure (CL). Data from six spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell) cultivars grown at 13 locations for five years were used in the initial cluster analysis. Another set of data, from a separate year, consisting of yields of the original 6 cultivars and a set of 12 independent cultivars was then used to check the validity of the original groupings and to compare the two methods. When the 6 original cultivars were considered, the LB technique was found to be superior to the CL. When the 12 independent cultivars were used, neither method was considered to be superior. Because of the lack of flexibility on the part of the LB method, neither technique could be deemed as fully adequate.Contribution Number 842 of the Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada     

Climatic impact,future biomass production,and local adaptation of four switchgrass cultivars

Previous studies have shown that switchgrass has a wide range of genetic variation and that productivity is linked to local adaptation to the location of origin for many cultivars. In this meta‐analysis, we compiled and analyzed 900 observations associated with 41 field trials for four switchgrass cultivars (two lowlands, Alamo and Kanlow, and two uplands, Cave‐In‐Rock and Shelter). This extensive dataset and machine learning were used to identify the most influential variables impacting switchgrass productivity, to search for evidence of local adaptation to each cultivar's location of origin, and to predict change in productivity under future climate for each cultivar. In general, variables associated with climate and management are more important predictors of productivity relative to soil variables. Three climatic variables, annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and precipitation in the wettest month, are identified as key environmental variables for productivity of all cultivars. Productivity under future climate (2041–2060) is predicted to stay stable for all cultivars relative to the prediction under current climate (1986–2005) across all trial locations and over a 20‐year simulation period. However, the productivity of each cultivar varies from location to location and from year to year, although productivity varies more between locations than between years. Additionally, we observe shifts in the most productive cultivar at the local field scale depending on the combination of management practice and climates. The shape of the relationship between productivity and the annual mean temperature relative to the cultivar's location of origin is a bell‐shaped curve for Kanlow, Cave‐in‐Rock, and Shelter, indicative of local adaptation. Identifying influential environmental variables and their relationships to productivity with respect to cultivar's location of origin help predicting productivity on the local field scale, and will help with the biofuel production planning through the selection of suitable cultivars for different locations under climate changes.     

Selection of test locations for regional trials of barley

Summary Three sets of regional six-row barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) trial data, representing cultivar x location x year, were grouped for locations based on the similarity of genotype x environment (GE) interaction. Locations were selected from each group (cluster) so that the structure of the GE interaction generated by the subsets of the locations would be approximately similar to that of the whole set (all locations). The purpose of this paper is to determine the number of locations where the GE interaction structure generated by these selected locations would be fairly consistent over years. Two statistics were used to measure the success of the selected locations: (1) the ratio of GE mean square (MS) associated with the selected location set relative to that associated with the best set (which gives the highest GE interaction MS) and (2) the rank correlation between the cultivar means averaged over the selected locations and those based on the entire data set. The results show that, for eastern Canada, 10–13 locations based on the cluster method can achieve a fairly consistent GE interaction structure over years.Contribution no. R-078 from Research Program Service, Agriculture Canada, and contribution no. 1352 from Plant Research Centre, Central Experimental Farm     

Genotype x environment interaction in QTL analysis of an intervarietal almond cross by means of genetic markers

Besides QTL location and the estimation of gene effects, QTL analysis based on genetic markers could be used to comprehensively investigate quantitative trait-related phenomena such as pleiotropy, gene interactions, heterosis, and genotype-by-environment interaction (G x E). Given that the G x E interaction is of great relevance in tree improvement, the objective of the research presented here was to study the effect of years on QTL detection for 15 quantitative traits by means of isozymatic markers in a large progeny group of an intervarietal cross of almond. At least 17 putative QTLs were detected, 3 of which had alleles with opposite effects to those predicted from the parental genotypes. Only 3 QTLs behaved homogeneously over the years. Three possible causes are discussed in relation to this lack of stability: the power of the test statistic being used, the low contribution of the QTL to the genetic variation of the trait, and a differential gene expression dependent on the year (G x E). Most cases showing lack of stability involved traits whose heritability estimates change drastically from year to year and/or whose correlation coefficients between years are low, suggesting the presence of G x E as the most likely cause. A marker-assisted selection scheme to improve late flowering and short flowering duration is suggested for an early and wide screening of the progeny.     

An integrated approach to oilseed rape cultivar selection using phenotypic stability

Summary Various methods of evaluating phenotypic stability have been proposed; however, no single method can adequately describe cultivar performance. The objectives of this study were to integrate a number of methods of evaluating stability and to use this approach for cultivar selection. These objectives were considered in the context of the broad-based oilseed rape cultivar (Brassica napus spp. oleifera) evaluation system currently used in western Canada. Regression analysis was used to assess cultivar response to environments. Cluster analysis was used to assemble cultivars into groups with similar regression coefficients (b _i ) and mean yield. Three parametric stability parameters, years within locations mean square (MS; Y/L), Shukla's stability variance ( _i ² ), and Francis and Kannenberg's coefficient of variability (CV _i ), were compared to determine which method would be most suitable for selection of oilseed rape cultivars from within clustered groups. Yield data from three cultivars and six breeding lines that had been tested for 2 years at 26 locations in the Western Canola Cooperative Test A were used for all calculations. The cluster analysis was successful in identifying commercially acceptable breeding lines. The parameter MS _i Y/L was considered to be more appropriate than either CV _i or _i ² , because it measured only the unpredictable portion of the genotype x environment interaction and was independent of the other cultivars in the test. The use of cluster analysis to group entries with similar b _i values and mean yields, followed by selection for stability within groups, was advocated.Contribution No. 846 of the Plant Science Department, University of Manitoba     

Genetical Control of Positional Preference for Fertilization in Pelargonium x Hortorum Bailey

The 6 x 6 x 4 analysis of variance of the percentages of theupper of two superposed ovules fertilized, after crosses betweengreen and variegated cultivars of Pelargonium x Hortorum Bailey,shows highly significant differences between female cultivarswith a highly significant maternal effect, and slight differencesbetween the plastid crosses which becomes highly significantin one cultivar. Differences between male cultivars and cultivarplastid interactions are barely significant. The differencesbetween cultivars and between plastids are attributed to additiveeffects corresponding to additive gene action. A comparisonbetween the mean frequency of upper embryos for mid-parentsand their reciprocal sets of progeny shows a significant linearregression which is equated with the narrow heritability. The binomial analysis of the distribution of upper and lowerembryos between flowers, shows that the likelihood of an upperor lower ovule being fertilized is solely dependent on the overallfrequency of the event in the population, indicating that eachcarpel behaves independently of other carpels in the same flower. A comparison between the three facets of fertilization - upperembryo frequency, twin frequency and mean fertilization, eachcontrolled by the genotype, shows that each cultivar has itsspecific and distinct pattern of behaviour. Pelargonium x Hortorum, embryo, fertilization, seed plastids     

Genetic diversity among barley cultivars assessed by sequence-specific amplification polymorphism

We analyzed the genetic structure and relationships among barley cultivars (Hordeum vulgare L.) with sequence-specific amplification polymorphisms (S-SAPs). Polymorphisms were identified in 824 individual barley plants representing 103 cultivars (eight plants per cultivar) widely grown in Canada and the United States, using PCR primers designed from the long terminal repeat of the barley retrotransposon BARE-1 and a subset of four selective MseI primers. From the 404 bands scored, 150 were polymorphic either within or between cultivars. Genetic structure assessed with analysis of molecular variance attributed the largest component of variation to the within groups of cultivars (69–86%). Within-cultivar genetic variation was estimated as average gene diversity over loci and ranged from 0 (completely homogenous) to 0.076 (most heterogeneous cultivar). Only 17 out of 103 cultivars (16%) were judged to be homogenous by this criterion. Relationships among cultivars were analyzed by cluster analysis using unweighted pair-groups using arithmetic averages and found groups similar to those determined by agriculturally significant phenotypic traits such as spike morphology (two-rowed or six-rowed), cultivar type (malting or feed), seed characteristic (hull-less or hulled), and growth habit (winter or spring), with minor overlaps. Discriminant analysis of groups determined by these phenotypic traits fully supported the different groups with minor overlaps between the malting/feed. S-SAP markers generated from retrotransposons such as BARE-1 are invaluable tools for the study of genetic diversity in organisms with a narrow genetic base such as barley. In this study, S-SAP analysis revealed significant amounts of cryptic variation in closely related cultivars including somaclonal variation, which could not be inferred by the pedigree analysis.     

Effects of seeding rate and plant density on sclerotinia stem rot incidence in canola

Abstract

Sclerotinia stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Lib. deBary) affects canola wherever it is grown. Seeding rates, which are believed to affect the microclimate beneath the canopy, were evaluated for their impact on sclerotinia stem rot incidence. A study with five seeding rates (2.2 kg/ha, 3.3 kg/ha, 6.7 kg/ha, 13.3 kg/ha and 20.0 kg/ha) and four canola cultivars chosen for their variation in canopy structure and lodging resistance was conducted in Carman, Manitoba, Canada, in 2001 to 2003. A significant relationship between sclerotinia stem rot disease incidence (DI) and seeding rate was found. With an increase in seeding rate, the DI was significantly increased in the mean of the canola cultivars, and individually, only in the lodging-prone cultivar AC Excel. Lodging significantly increased for all cultivars when seeding rates exceeded the standard 6.7 kg/ha. Multiple regression analysis revealed that both plant density and lodging explain the majority of the variation in DI. Both plant density and lodging resistance varied in having a larger influence on DI depending on the year and cultivar analysed. Our results indicate that increasing seeding rate does modify the microenvironment and increases the potential for lodging, which may be responsible for plant-to-plant spread of this disease.     

银杏核用品种产量性状指标的变异及聚类分析

选用20个国内外大粒、早实、优质银杏核用品种,采用随机区组试验设计,连续4a对6个产量性状指标的变异及聚类分析进行了研究．结果表明,20个品种4a平均产量性状指标的变异系数大于50％．Q型系统聚类表明,20个品种可以分成5类,日本的“岭南”和“黄金丸”为最丰产品种．不同年份不同品种归属不同类别．本研究为银杏丰产品种选育奠定了生物数学基础．     

1H‐NMR screening for the high‐throughput determination of genotype and environmental effects on the content of asparagine in wheat grain

Free asparagine in cereals is known to be the precursor of acrylamide, a neurotoxic and carcinogenic product formed during cooking processes. Thus, the development of crops with lower asparagine is of considerable interest to growers and the food industry. In this study, we describe the development and application of a rapid ¹H‐NMR‐based analysis of cereal flour, that is, suitable for quantifying asparagine levels, and hence acrylamide‐forming potential, across large numbers of samples. The screen was applied to flour samples from 150 bread wheats grown at a single site in 2005, providing the largest sample set to date. Additionally, screening of 26 selected cultivars grown for two further years in the same location and in three additional European locations in the third year (2007) provided six widely different environments to allow estimation of the environmental (E) and G x E effects on asparagine levels. Asparagine concentrations in the 150 genotypes ranged from 0.32 to 1.56 mg/g dry matter in wholemeal wheat flours. Asparagine levels were correlated with plant height and therefore, due to recent breeding activities to produce semi‐dwarf varieties, a negative relationship with the year of registration of the cultivar was also observed. The multisite study indicated that only 13% of the observed variation in asparagine levels was heritable, whilst the environmental contribution was 36% and the GxE component was 43%. Thus, compared to some other phenotypic traits, breeding for low asparagine wheats presents a difficult challenge.     

Yield stability of determinate and indeterminate dry bean cultivars

Summary Yield stability of determinate and indeterminate dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars was compared using regression of genotypic performance on environmental means. Yields of 28 dry bean cultivars differing in plant growth habit and commercial class designation were obtained from 42 Michigan performance nurseries over the 6 year period 1980 to 1985. The determinate type I large-seeded kidney and cranberry bean cultivars had below-average seed yield and large mean square deviations from regression. Lower yielding determinate small-seeded navy cultivars had low deviation mean square values, while higher yielding determinate navy cultivars had correspondingly higher mean square deviations from regression. Although seed yield of cultivars with an indeterminate growth habit was greater than determinate cultivars, prostrate type III indeterminate cultivars had deviation mean square values equivalent to those of large-seeded determinate cultivars. The erect, short vine type II indeterminate cultivars (architypes) had greater than average seed yields and minimum deviations from regression. Compared with other plant types, the architype group showed a greater yield response to more productive environments, with regression coefficient values significantly greater than unity. These results indicate that the type II growth habit offers the breeder the best opportunity of obtaining greater seed yield without incurring loss of yield stability as occurs with the type I and type III growth habits. Since the dry bean cultivars utilized in this study represent two distinct centers of domestication, the regression analysis suggests that cultivars from the predominant genetic center demonstrate more yield stability. A non-significant rank correlation coefficient between the combined and separate analyses for deviation mean square values of large-seeded cultivars implies that commercial dry bean classes should be compared separately based on center of domestication.Contributions from Michigan Bean Commission, Michigan Bean Shippers Assoc. and Michigan Agric. Exp. Sta., Michigan Agric. Exp. Sta. Journal Article No. 11986     

Environmental response patterns in commercial classes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary The yield data of 39 cultivars of diverse commercial classes of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) planted in seven locations in Michigan were subjected to cluster and canonical variate analyses. The essential findings and conclusions can be summarized as follows: (1) Cluster analysis classified the cultivars into sub-sets or clusters almost identically coinciding with their commercial class designation. Canonical variate analysis completely confirmed the sub-groupings. Within class similarities were attributed to a narrow genetic base resulting from a common genetic relationship, or at least sharing of a common gene pool. (2) It was found that two clusters could possess almost identical mean (cluster mean) yields, and deviate in opposite directions over the same range of environments. (3) When total genotype × environmental interaction variance was partitioned into between and within clusters, the cluster × environment portion constituted 80% of the total. (4) These results imply that if the behavior of a given cultivar across a series of environments is known, the behavior of all other members of the class across a similar range of environments would be predictable.Journal Article No. 10329 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station     

Genetic-cytoplasmic male sterility in progeny of 4x-2x crosses in cultivated potatoes

Summary Forty-three percent of the progeny from 4x × 2x crosses [Group Tuberosum cultivar x diploid hybrid (Groups Phureja or Stenotomum x Group Tuberosum haploid)] were male sterile. In contrast only four percent of the progeny from the reciprocal crosses were male sterile. Male sterility among the former progeny is presumed to result from the interaction of Tuberosum cytoplasm with dominant genes from the cultivated diploids, Groups Phureja and Stenotomum, an interaction known to occur in crosses of Tuberosum haploid x cultivated diploid species (2n = 2x = 24). The frequency of fertile progeny from the 4x × 2x crosses (57%) was significantly higher than that from the 2x × 2x crosses (Tuberosum haploid x cultivated diploid), (28%). The frequency of male fertility among progeny from different cultivars in 4x × 2x crosses varied from 31–82 percent. The difference between cultivars strongly suggests that some cultivars may have dominant male fertility restorer genes.     

The estimation of productivity and yield of linseed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linum usitatissimum</Emphasis> L.) using the growth analysis

In three year field experiments (2001 – 2003) the growth, yield and productivity of 8 flax cultivars were compared. Cultivars ‘AC Linora’, ‘Flanders’, ‘Linola™ 947’, ‘Norlin’ and ‘Omega’ were obtained from Canada, ‘Barbara’ and ‘Hungarian Gold’ from Hungary and ‘Opal’ from Poland. Apart from the estimation of the yield of aboveground parts dry matter and seed yield the determinations of the primary index value of growth analysis were done and on their basis the indices LAI, LAD, RGR, CGR and HI were calculated. The obtained yield results of the examined flax cultivars show significant genotypic — environmental relationships pertaining to the dynamics of dry matter accumulation and the amount of seed yield. Meteorological conditions in the successive years significantly influenced the particular phases of growth and development of cultivars and the factor which increased the amount of dry matter was the air temperature during the period of plant emergence — budding. During the vegetative season with a large amount of rainfall the average seed yield was about 40 % lower than compared with a year of average precipitation and a warm second part of the second period of flax vegetation. Among the analyzed cultivars a stable yield in all the years was characteristic for cultivars ‘Flanders’, ‘Barbara’ and ‘AC Linora’ (that cultivar, however, during a wet year yielded at a low level). The assimilation leaf surface of the linseed quickly increased during the period from budding to flowering and the accumulation of dry matter of the aboveground parts lasted up to the green maturity. In the successive years of the experiment there were observed significant (linear or logarithmic regressions) relationship between the yield of dry matter and the indices of growth analysis. The biggest values of the CGR indicator were observed for the period from budding to flowering. The maintaining of a high CGR value after plant flowering in the year with a favourable course of climatic parameters was beneficial for a better yield of all flax cultivars. The low values of the RGR index after flowering of cultivar ‘Hungarian Gold’ and ‘Opal’ strictly corresponded to their low yield of seed and straw biomass.     

大豆种质资源农艺性状和产量的年份间差异及其关系

明确大豆种质资源农艺性状的变化及其与产量的关系对大豆遗传育种具有重要的意义。以249份大豆种质资源为材料,应用多元统计方法分析了大田条件下两年间大豆农艺性状与产量的变化。结果表明,大豆种质资源的农艺性状和产量两年变异系数分别为6.2%~78.0%和6.3%~48.5%,变异较大。生育日数因在黄淮海区域生态类型较接近,变异系数较小;而主茎节数变异系数也较小。株高、有效分枝数、底荚高度、单株荚数、单株粒数、每荚粒数、单株粒重、百粒重、单位面积产量则相对变异较大。品种之间农艺性状和产量差异均显著。不同年份间生态因子（温度、降水量及日照时数）对大豆农艺性状和产量的影响较大,年份间不同指标差异亦显著。分别对两年农艺性状采用主成分分析,简化为4个与产量相关的独立指标,并建立了产量与农艺性状之间的方程Y=17.5-1.76x1+1.32x2+0.30x3+2.50x4和Y=198.8-3.12x1+7.71x2+0.08x3+2.71x4以表达其量化关系;采用聚类分析方法将两年中249份大豆种质资源分别聚为5类,并分析了各类品种的特性,为高产稳产大豆新品种的选育以及高产栽培措施的调控提供理论依据。     

Microsatellite DNA and RAPD fingerprinting,identification and genetic relationships of hybrid poplar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus x canadensis</Emphasis>) cultivars

Microsatellite DNA markers of ten SSR loci and 248 RAPD loci (resolved by 26 RAPD primers) were used for DNA fingerprinting and differentiation of 17 widely grown Populus x canadensis syn. Populus x euramericana (interspecific Populus deltoides x Populus nigra hybrids) cultivars ("Baden 431", "Blanc du Poitou", "Canada Blanc", "Dorskamp 925", "Eugenei", "Gelrica", "Grandis", "Heidemij", "I-55/56", "I-132/56", "I-214", "Jacometti", "Ostia", "Regenerata", "Robusta", "Steckby" and "Zurich 03/3"), and determination of their genetic interrelationships. Informativeness of microsatellite and RAPD markers was also evaluated in comparison with allozyme markers for clone/cultivar identification in P. x canadensis. High microsatellite DNA and RAPD genetic diversity was observed in the sampled cultivars. All of the 17 P. x canadensis cultivars could be differentiated by their multilocus genotypes at four SSR loci, and were heterozygous for their parental species-specific alleles at the PTR6 SSR locus. Except for "Canada Blanc" and "Ostia", which had identical RAPD patterns, all cultivars could also be differentiated by RAPD fingerprints produced by each of the two RAPD primers, OPA07 and OPB15. For microsatellites, the mean number of alleles, polymorphic information content, observed heterozygosity, observed number of genotypes and the number of cultivars with unique genotypes per locus was 5.2, 0.64, 0.67, 5.7 and 2.2, respectively. For RAPD markers, the number of haplotypes per locus, and the number of cultivars with unique RAPD profiles per locus were 1.06 and 0.72, respectively. Overall, microsatellite DNA markers were the most informative for DNA fingerprinting of P. x canadensis cultivars. On the per locus basis, microsatellites were about six-times more informative than RAPD markers and about nine-times more informative than allozyme markers. However, on the per primer basis, RAPD markers were more informative. The UPGMA cluster plots separated the 17 cultivars into two major groups based on their microsatellite genotypic similarities, and into three major groups based on their RAPD fragment similarities. Both the microsatellite and RAPD data suggest that the cultivars "Baden 431", "Heidemij", "Robusta" and "Steckby" are genetically closely related. The inter-cultivar genetic relationships from microsatellite DNA and RAPD markers were consistent with those observed from allozyme markers, and were in general agreement with their speculated origin. Microsatellite DNA and RAPD markers could be used for clone and cultivar identification, varietal control and registration, and stock handling in P. x canadensis.