Abstract
In breeding, understanding of the genetic background is effective for efficient improvement. The coefficients of parental correlation between the main cultivars of wheat and between those of barley in the Kanto Region were calculated based on their pedigree record. The number of same DNA markers in random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and Nei's genetic distance between these cultivars were also calculated. The coefficient of correlation between the parental correlation and the number of the same DNA markers was 0.581—0.904 in wheat and 0.731—0.805 in barley. The coefficient of correlation between the parental correlation and Nei's genetic distance was -0.511—-0.892 in wheat and -0.659—-0.770 in barley. These results show that the genetic codes detected by the molecular markers were neary equally distributed to the offspring in the breeding process in wheat and barley. The results also showed that although the DNA markers in RAPD analysis are useful, the rapid estimate of kinship by the parental correlation is still effective. The number of the same DNA markers in RAPD analysis was highly correlated with Nei's genetic distance.
