In alogam plants, the cultivars constitute a source of plant-to-plant genetic variation from which the breeder can obtain new materials. Genetic variability among individuals or populations has been measured through molecular markers. The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic diversity in a group of onion cultivars recommended for cultivation in the Southern Region of Brazil by RAPD (Random Amplified Polimorphic DNA) analysis. Eleven primers were employed to the characterization of 90 individual plants from Baia Periforme, Bola Precoce, BRS Cascata, Crioula, Primavera and Roxa cultivars. The plants were genotyped through the products visualized in agarose gel and a matrix of presence/absence of bands was used in the analyses of genetic similarity (coefficient of Jaccard) and grouping by UPGMA method. The 11 primers generated 140 (86,4%) polymorphic bands. The number of fragments per primer varied from 10 (UBC105) to 18 (OPA10; OPC11; OPI1) with an average of 15 bands per primer. The RAPD technique was efficient in the molecular characterization, allowing the formation of groups of cultivars according of its origin population, with an average similarity of 63%. The onion cultivars recommended for the Southern Region of Brazil present genetic divergence, with potential to be explored by breeders for the development of superior genotypes.
Allium cepa L.; genetic resources; plant breeding; cluster analysis
