DNA RESTRICTION FRAGMENT LENGTH VARIABILITY IN THE GENOMES OF HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY

Restriction fragment analyses of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were carried out on the principal cytoplasms of northern highbush cultivars and one representative of Vaccinium ashei Reade. Twenty-three restriction enzymes were used to identify variation and clarify mode of organelle inheritance. All species and genotypes displayed identical cpDNA fragment patterns, but high degrees of polymorphism were observed in the mitochondrial genomes. 'Bluecrop' and 'Jersey' did not appear to have 'Rubel' cytoplasm as was previously believed. All hybrids contained maternal-type mtDNA.