Assessing relationships of kumara cultivars by RAPD analysis

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Abstract
RAPD fingerprints were obtained for nine New Zealand kumara (Ipomoea batatas, Convolvulaceae) cultivars including three identified as “ancient” or “pre-European”, two modern, and four reputedly derived from 19th century introductions. The banding patterns were analysed as a distance matrix which was clustered using two procedures, and with the PAUP computer programme. The cultivars derived from the 19th century introduction clustered in one group, a group which also included one modern cultivar. Two ancient cultivars were closely related to each other, but distant from the other ancient cultivar and the other groups, a result which is consistent with two separate, possibly pre-European lines. The theoretical historical origin of each cultivar was supported.