DNA fingerprinting willows<i>(Salix</i>L.) using polymerase chain reaction with the M13 universal primer

Abstract

We describe DNA fingerprinting of willows (Salix L.) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We amplified genomic DNA of 15 putative clones in Salix eriocephala, S. exigua, S. miyabeana, S. rorida and S. sachalinensis, and in 4 ramets of a clone in each of S. petiolaris and 5. eriocephala with the M13 universal primer (5´‐TTATGAAACGACGGCCAGT‐3´). A total of 19 PCR fragments (bands) were observed, but each clone had 4 to 9 bands. Fourteen of the 15 clones had unique banding profiles that distinguished each other. The remaining clone from S. eriocephala was identical to a clone of the same species. Banding profile was reproducible among ramets of the S. petiolaris clone, but minor differences in staining intensity in 2 of the 6 bands were observed among ramets of the 5. eriocephala clone. A dendrogram of relationships showed that clones of the same species grouped together.