Using optimized random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to identify the category status of Citrus

Citrus nobilis Lour. Gonggan is an excellent fruit variety which is widely planted in South China. The origin of Gonggan is not clear. It is conjectured that its origin is from a cross between tangerine and orange; however, there is no direct evidence to confirm this. Here, we applied the optimized random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR to amplify genus Citrus species: 1) to better understand the genetic relationship between C. nobilis Lour. Gonggan and other Citrus species; and (2) to address the phylogenetic relationship among Citrus species. A total of 21 RAPD primers were used to screen 4 Citrus species and 10 of them efficiently amplified the genomic DNA of 23 Citrus accessions. A total of 87 locus/alleles were generated by those 10 primers with an average of 97.7 % polymorphic. Our data supported that C. nobilis Lour. Gonggan belongs to a big group with most tested tangerine and orange and a subgroup with Citrus haniana and Citrus flamea, implying that either C. haniana or C. flamea is likely to be one of the parents of C. nobilis Lour. Gonggan. Key words: Citrus nobilis Lour. Gonggan, random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD), phylogenetic relationship