The aim of this work was to evaluate the genotypic fidelity of pear shoots (Pyrus communis L.) cultivar Carrick regenerated in vitro, using RAPD markers. Genomic DNA was extracted from leaves regenerated from pear shoots submitted to different treatments and from micropropagated matrix plants (control plant), using the protocol descripted by FERREIRA & GRATTAPAGLIA (1996). For primer selection, the Kits OPAN, OPA, and OPF (Operon Technologies, Inc.) were used. Seven primers were chosen: OPAN-03, OPAN-14, OPAN-15, OPAN-16, OPA-02, OPA-08 and OPF-04. Amplified products were submitted to horizontal electrophoresis in 1.2% agarose gel, stained with ethidium bromide and visualized under UV light. The result was documented by using a Polaroid Camera. The absence or addition of bands, compared to the control plant pattern was considered somaclonal variation. The seven primers generated 66 fragments with 100% monomorphics bands indicating that none of the primers used was able to detect somaclonal variation on the regenerated shoots.
pear; somaclonal variation; molecular markers; RAPD
