RAPD studies in Bromus (Poaceae) from the old and new worlds - preliminary results

RAPD analysis was applied to nine Bromus species (B. fasciculatus, B. arvensis, B. scoparius, B. hordeaceus, B. squarrosus, B. carinatus, B. willdenowii, B. erectus, B. inermis) belonging to four subgenera: subg. Stenobromus, subg. Bromus, subg. Ceratochloa, and subg. Festucaria. With 10 out 13 primers a considerable degree of polymorphism was detected at the interspecific level, and some bands obtained with these primers appeared to be species-specific. The RAPD band distribution and genetic relationships between different Bromus species and subgenera were analyzed. No bands common to all analyzed species were discovered, but some of the amplified DNA fragments were common to all taxa belonging to the same subgenera or even different ones. The divisions suggested by taxonomists generally were confirmed by numerical analysis of the RAPD data presented here.