Inheritance of Restriction Amplification Fragment Length Polymorphisms in Perennial Ryegrass

Restriction amplification fragment length polymorphic (RAFLP) markers show promise as genetic markers in diploid outcrossing turfgrass species such as perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The RAFLP markers should combine many advantages of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and should exhibit codominance. After screening 88 primers that produced distinct fragments with five restriction enzymes, 64 restriction loci were identified. Sixteen of these appeared to be polymorphic for the restriction locus and were regarded as potential RAFLP markers. The progeny of crosses of heterozygous perennial ryegrass plants were evaluated to determine whether the proposed RAFLP markers identified in the parental plants segregated according to Mendelian genetics as predicted for codominant markers. Although 16 tentative RAFLP markers were identified, only one segregated as expected for a single locus with two alleles. Our results suggest that useful RAFLP markers will be difficult to find for outcrossing turfgrass species.