The rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex. Adr. de Juss) Muell.-Arg.] is a native species from Amazon region, and represents the biggest source of natural rubber in the world.. However, the rubber tree culture has had an expansion to other brazilian regions, in search of more favorable conditions for its cultivation and self-sufficiency in natural rubber. The aim of this work was to estimate genetic similarity among rubber tree clones, from different Brazilian regions, Lavras (UFLA) and Campinas (IAC), by using RAPD molecular markers. The analysis was made using 41 individual plants, which represent 17 different clones, based on 19 primers, which raised 121 polymorphic fragments. The data were analysed with NTSYS-pc - 2.1 software, by using Dice coefficient and UPGMA method. Genetic similarity among the materials showed variation from 0,56 to 1,00. In dendogram analysis, 18 groups were observed. The clones RRIM600, GT1, PB235, PLPIM and FX2261 used in different replications, were identical, when compared among themselves. However, results were not the same for the clones identified by RRIM 701. Results suggest that the UFLA material is the same of IAC material, except for RRIM 701, showing wide genetic variability available for studies and culture propagation.
DNA marker; genetic diversity; germoplasm; genetic identity
