MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF CUBAN SUGARCANE VARIETIES (Saccharum spp) BY AFLP

Abstract

A total of 34 high-commercial value sugarcane genotypes recommended by the Genetic Improvement Program of the National Institute for Sugarcane Research of Cuba, were characterized by AFLPs as molecular approach. Identification of the individuals by their DNA amplification patterns was possible using the copy primers 5’-GACTGCGTACATGCAac-3’ 5’GATGAGTCCTGAAGATAGaca-3’ and 5’-GACTGCGTA CATGCAaa-3’ 5’-GATGAGT CCTGAAGATAGgaa-3’. Utility of AFLP markers as a tool for characterization of individual’s carrying high genomic similarity was corroborated. The use of cluster analyses and factorial analysis of correspondences (FAC) confirmed that the genetic basis of the modern sugarcane commercial varieties in Cuba is very narrow. Results are a complementary tool for the identification of these genotypes and give an additional value for their commercialization and exchange