Genetic relationships of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) using RAPD markers

RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) analysis was carried out on 16 accessions representing the three ecological races of avocado (Persea americana Mill.), and one accession of P. schiedeana Nees. Twenty two preselected primers produced 133 polymorphic DNA fragments in the RAPD assay of the avocado accessions. One primer was identified which could differentiate each of the avocado accessions. Potentially race-specific markers for each of the Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian races, have been detected. A Jaccard's similarity coefficient matrix was generated and a dendrogram constructed using UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method of arithmetic averages) cluster analysis. Percentage similarity between avocado accessions ranged from 46% to 85%. The lowest similarity (between 22% and 29%) was revealed between P. schiedeana and any P. americana accession. Average similarity within races of avocado was 75% for the Mexican race, 71% for the West Indian race and 73% for the Guatemalan race. Average similarity between races ranged from 53% to 58%. The dendrogram identified three groups, representing the races of avocado. These results are in concordance with the present classification of avocado into three subspecies (varieties) of P. americana, namely drymifolia, americana, and guatemalensis, corresponding to the Mexican, West Indian and Guatemalan races, respectively, and confirm the separate species status of P. schiedeana. We conclude that RAPD markers may be useful for the classification of avocado and for the assessment of genetic diversity of avocado germplasm.