Rapid estimation of genetic relatedness among heterogeneous populations of alfalfa by random amplification of bulked genomic DNA samples

A procedure which involves the use of RAPD markers, obtained from bulked genomic DNA samples, to estimate genetic relatedness among heterogeneous populations is demonstrated in this study. Bulked samples of genomic DNA from several alfalfa plants per population were used as templates in polymerase chain reactions with different random primers to produce RAPD patterns. The results show that the RAPD patterns can be used to determine genetic distances among heterogeneous populations and cultivars which correspond to their known relatedness. The results also indicate that, by using ten primers with bulked DNA samples from ten individuals, 18–72 populations or cultivars can be distinguished from each other on the basis of at least one unique RAPD marker. We anticipate that DNA bulking and methods for comparing RAPD patterns will be very useful for identifying cultivars, for studying phylogenetic relationships among heterogeneous populations and for selecting parents to maximize heterosis in crosses.