Screening RAPD primers to assess clonal fidelity in somatic embryos of Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb. et Zucc.) and field performance of somatic embryo-derived trees

Abstract

In this study, 100 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers were screened to assess clonal fidelity in somatic embryos of Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb. et Zucc.). Of the 100 primers tested, eight were selected based on their amplification products, which showed clear DNA fragmentation, generating 8.75 bands per primer in average. The amplification products showed no genetic variation among the tested somatic embryos. In addition, the performance of somatic embryo-derived trees was monitored in the field, and their mean height growth was measured until the age of 10 years. Although no phenotypic differences were observed, the somatic embryo-derived trees showed lower growth compared with seedlings.