GENETIC-VARIABILITY AND PARENTAGE IN MACROCYSTIS-PYRIFERA (PHAEOPHYCEAE) USING MULTILOCUS DNA-FINGERPRINTING

Multi-locus DNA fingerprints using an M13 probe were obtained for two individuals of Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. collected from Monterey Bay, California, and their laboratory-reared offspring. DNA was extracted from each of two field-collected individuals (= parents), their self-fertilized diploid offspring (three and seven individuals), and one diploid individual resulting from spores of the two parents. A total of 20 bands (4-19 kb) was detected among all individuals, ranging from 7 to 24 bands for any one individual. Two bands were present in all individuals, and three bands were unique to one parent and its three progeny. Ten bands were observed in the outcrossed individual, of which three were inherited from one parent, two from the other parent, and five were present in both parents. Genetic similarity between each parent and their self-fertilized offspring was significantly higher than similarity between the two self-fertilized groups. The data show that multi-locus DNA fingerprints can be used to assess parentage in the giant kelp and that there is consistent agreement between genetic similarity and known genetic relatedness among parents and offspring.