Abstract:

Ten pairs of AFLP primers were screened out and used for the analysis of forty-four clones, which came from twenty species and hybrids of five sections in Populus. Percentage of polymorphism fragments produced by each pair of AFLP primer was 100%. All these data indicated that considerable genetic variation existed among species and clones at DNA level. Using UPGMA cluster analysis from AFLP data,molecular genetic distances among sections, species, and clones were calculated, and the relationship among them was described quantitatively. Compared with the classical taxonomy,the result of cluster analysis among sections was consistent completely, and the results of cluster analysis among intrasectional species and intraspecies clones were basically similar. We built DNA fingerprint of the 44 Populus genotypes. In this fingerprint, every plant has its own band. Finally, the feasibility of selecting and mating parents and early selection of progenies were discussed based on the results of molecular markers.

Key words: Populus, AFLP, genetic variation, fingerprints, genetic relationship