Molecular typing of Cereus peruvianus clones and their genetic relationships with other Cereus species evaluated by RAPD analysis

RAPD analysis was used to fingerprint 29 genotypes of Cereus species and examine their genetic diversity. Some modifications were made to the DNA extraction procedure with a view to assuring higher DNA yield and purity. A dissimilarity matrix and dendrogram were constructed to help visualize genetic relationships between different genotypes. The results show that C. peruvianus has only a limited genetic base and that further improvement of this crop may require the introduction of additional germplasm into breeding programmes. RAPD markers were shown to be a valuable tool for clone identification in Cereus species and for determining genetic relationships.