Genetic diversity of Kensington mango in Australia.
Bally I. S. E., Graham G. C., Henry R. J.
Author Affiliation: Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Ayr Research Station, PO Box 591, Ayr, Qld 4807, Australia.
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 36 : 243-247
Abstract : Over 90% of all mango (Mangifera indica) trees planted in Australia are of the cv. Kensington Pride. The genetic diversity of this seed-propagated cultivar was investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. DNA was extracted from leaves of 27 Kensington Pride trees, 2 R2E2 trees and 1 promising local seedling. RAPD analysis with 10 oligonucleotide primers allowed the scoring of 107 markers. The R2E2 trees (20% dissimilarity) and the seedling (10% dissimilarity) were distinct from Kensington Pride. However, there was very little evidence of significant genetic variation within Kensington Pride selections. Fifteen of the selections were identical in all 107 markers. Only 2 selections, WEAN2 and ML2N1, differed by more than 5%. These plants provide the best options for use in genetic improvement of the Kensington Pride mango. Many of the differences found in Kensington Pride orchards may be due to environmental factors rather than genetic variations.