Suitability of isozyme, RAPD and AFLP markers to assess genetic differences and relatedness among fig (Ficus carica L.) clones

Sarilop is the main and standard cultivar for commercial dried fig (Ficus carica L.) production in Turkey. Eleven of the most promising Sarilop clones and one clone of Sarizeybek, all selected from a former agronomic evaluation, were analysed by three molecular marker techniques, isozymes, RAPDs and AFLPs. The resolution power and the accuracy of these three analytical techniques, in distinguishing among fig clones, were determined. The analysis of five isozyme systems permitted the discrimination between the two cultivars, Sarilop and Sarizeybek. Besides the discrimination between the two fig cultivars, the use of 31 10-mer primers in RAPD analysis allowed splitting the 11 Sarilop clones into two groups of genetic similarity, but not to distinguish between all the clones. The AFLP(TM) technology showed a much higher multiplex ratio than the RAPD technique (42.4 vs. 6.1) and eight combinations of EcoR1/Mse1 primers were enough to clearly distinguish between all the Sarilop clones. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.