Cultivar discrimination among wakegi onion (Allium x wakegi Araki) by fluorescent AFLP technique

Abstract

To identify cultivars of wakegi onion (Allium x wakegi Araki), nine virus-free clones (Hiroshima 1 go-Hiroshima 9 go) were examined by fluorescent AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) technique, using 16 primer combinations. Twelve out of the 16 primer combinations amplified a total of 678 DNA fragments (peaks) in nine wakegi onion clones. Eight primer combinations produced 11 polymorphic markers available for discriminating the nine clones from each other, except between Hiroshima 1 go ('Shimonoseki') and Hiroshima 2 go ('Kanshirazu'). The AFLP data revealed that 26.3% and 23.5% of the 678 DNA fragments were derived from Japanese bunching onion and shallot, respectively. Five out of 11 polymorphic markers, were seemingly originated from Japanese bunching onion, whereas three from shallot. These results verified that wakegi onion are interspecific hybrids whose parents are the Japanese bunching onion and shallot. Fluorescent AFLP technique is a useful method for discriminating wakegi onion cultivars.