Evaluating genetic relationships of geranium using arbitrary signatures from amplification profiles

Our objective was to distinguish between eight cultivars of two geranium species, Pelargoniumxhortorum L.H. Bailey (cutting and seed geranium) and Pelargonium peltatum (L.) L'Her, ex Ait. (ivy geranium), and evaluate their genetic relationships using the nucleic acid scanning techniques of DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF) and/or arbitrary signatures from amplification profiles (ASAP), Cultivars used in the study represented three commercial types: cutting, seed, and ivy geranium. Two seed geranium cultivars from each of the Dynamo and Orbit series were included. Cutting geranium cultivars were 'Designer Lilac Chiffon' and 'Starburst Red' and the ivy geraniums were 'Bernardo Guiber' and 'Vinco Guivin'. The ASAP amplification protocol used one of two arbitrary octamer primers, followed by reamplification with one of four different mini-hairpin primers. ASAP profiles were complex, with 66% of bands being polymorphic and useful ire distinguishing between cultivars. Genetic relationships were evaluated by principal coordinate analysis and cluster analysis based on the Jaccard distance estimator. This analysis grouped cultivars by species according to commercial type, i.e., seed geraniums were in one large group, the cutting geraniums were grouped together, and the ivy geraniums were a separate branch.