| Abstract | DNA based molecular markers have become important tools for developing improved cultivars and for studying phylogenetic relationships. The most commonly used molecular markers are restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and microsatellites. The RAPD technique is a variation of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that has been widely used as a molecular marker since 1990. The RAPD technique is easier, faster and requires a smaller amount of DNA than RFLP, AFLP or microsatellites. The successful use of the RAPD technique in marker identification, genetic mapping, cultivar identification and phylogenetic analysis in cereal crops is discussed in this paper. The reproducibility problem of the RAPD technique and ways to improve the assay are also discussed. |
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