ABSTRACT
The repertoire of genetic diagnostic tools available to the plant breeder is growing: in addition to the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP) markers, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers are now well accepted for genetic mapping and diagnostic application. RFLP marker technology is widely used in research, but it requires relatively large amounts of DNA and is refractory to automation. Providing the DNA sequence of the DNA surrounding a microsatellite is known and suitable Polymerase Chain Reaction primers can be designed, the stretch of DNA incorporating the microsatellite can be amplified and its length determined by electrophoresis in acrylamide or agarose. Extrapolating from currently existing technology, it is possible to envisage the plant breeding environment of the year 2000. The RAPD reaction performed on genomic DNA with an arbitrary oligonucleotide primer results in the amplification of several discrete DNA products.
