ASSESSMENT OF THE GENETIC VARIABILITY AMONG RICE CULTIVARS REVEALED BY AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM (AFLP)

Abstract

Considerable amounts of information are available regarding genetic variation in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Such information is important for constructing mapping populations and targeting the collection and the use of germplasm. The objective of this study was to evaluate the molecular variability among a representative sample of rice genotypes. AFLP analysis was applied to 56 rice genotypes (Japanese, Philippines, and Brazilian) from the germplasm bank of CGF (Centro de Genômica e Fitomelhoramento), Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas/RS, Brazil. Six primer pairs were used and they amplified 249 bands, 205 (82.32%) of which were polymorphic. Three groups of genotypes were detected: one contained five out of seven lowland genotypes, the second contained almost all Brazilian and Philippine genotypes and the third group contained six Japanese genotypes. The remaining Japanese genotypes formed unique groups. Groups obtained by Principal Components Analysis were similar to groups obtained by UPGMA