Genetic mapping of soybean [Glycine max (L.) merr.] using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is based on DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of random DNA segments using single arbitrary nucleotide sequences. We have adapted the assay to soybeans by using Stoffel Fragment DNA polymerase and by optimizing the reaction conditions. To increase the percentage of RAPD polymorphisms, the DNA template was digested with restriction enzymes before amplification. The combination of twenty-four primers and five DNA template treatments (Undigested, DraI, EcoRI, HindIII, and TaqI digested) revealed 94 polymorphic DNA fragments differing between soybean lines PI437654 and BSR101. Many polymorphic DNA bands were found unreliable or non-scoreable after re-screening of primers and verification of marker-allele segregation with 20 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). However, 28 RAPD markers were consistently polymorphic between the parental lines and followed Mendelian expectations. The use of DNA templates digested with DraI, EcoRI, HindIII or TaqI increased three times the number of RAPD markers compared to undigested DNA template alone. The 28 RAPD markers obtained were further screened with 72 RILs and placed on an existing RFLP map.