Evaluation of genetic diversity and genetic relationships among female Lithuanian accessions of kolomikta kiwi

Abstract

The estimation of genetic heterogeneity of female Actinidia kolomikta accessions from the pomological collection of Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University was accomplished. DNA analysis by RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorhic DNA) technique showed significant genetic diversity of Lithuanian accessions and allowed to estimate their relationship. The percentage of polymorphism ranged from 55.6 to 80.0%. Two specific markers were identified with the primers OPC–02 and 2B for the cultivar ‘Laiba’ and female clone F4M4. The dendrogram grouping the accessions by UPGMA method revealed two main clusters. ‘Laiba’ was the most divergent cultivar and was separated from other accessions by 0.824 genetic distance