Genetic variability investigated by RAPDs analysis among italian rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

The genetic diversity among 28 rice cultivars, different for biometric traits, biological cycle and suitability to water limitation, was investigated using RAPD markers. The cluster analysis was carried out using 182 polymorphic fragments obtained from 13 primers (10 bp). High level of polymorphism was found between japonica and indica subspecies, whereas japonica cultivars with long grains (tropical) resulted to be genetically different from the short grains genotypes (temperate). These results confirm that RAPDs analysis could be useful to investigate genetic relationships among indica and japonica cultivars and between tropical and temperate japonica. Variability among the latter varieties could lead to good heterotic combinations between japonica genotypes. Furthermore, the genetic variability between upland and lowland rice cultivars could be utilized to achieve genotypes suitable for sprinkler irrigation.