The use of the PCR-RAPD technique in improving the plant variety rights description of a new Queensland apple (Malus domestica) cultivar

Abstract

A new early maturing Queensland apple cultivar (GB 63-43), has been differentiated from 3 cultivars of similar appearance, Summerdel, Jonathan and Royal Gala with a molecular technique. The Polymerase Chain Reaction and Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA procedures have shown the presence of a DNA band of about 700 bp only in the 3 comparator cultivars when the primer M-4 (5' GGCGGTTGTC 3') is used. This distinguishing band can be used to support existing published Plant Variety Rights data with the advantage that trees can be sampled even when dormant or are too young to bear fruit. Additionally, false identification due to variations in tree and fruit characteristics caused by environmental influences is avoided as the techniques directly measure variations in the apple DNA.