RFLP-based phylogenetic analysis of wide compatibility varieties in Oryza sativa L.

Twenty-one wide compatibility varieties (WCVs) of rice together with three indica and three japonica testers were assayed with 160 DNA probes that were selected to represent the entire RFLP map at an average interval of 11 cM. On the basis of four enzyme digestion 125 probes detected polymorphisms among the WCVs and subspecies' testers. Among these polymorphic probes there were 68 that could distinguish the indica from the japonica testers. Two dendrograms were constructed on the basis of 398 polymorphic fragments of 125 probes and 139 polymorphic fragments of 68 subspecies' differentiating probes in combination with single enzymes, respectively. The reliability and representativeness of the testers and the levels of DNA variations among WCVs were estimated. The potential of WCVs in the utilization of intersubspecific heterosis is discussed.