Identification of parental species of the Alstroemeria cv. ‘Jubilee’ using AFLP marker technique

Twelve Alstroemeria species, two hybrids, one cv. ‘Jubilee’, an anther-cultured plant from cultivar ‘Jubilee,’ and Bomarea salsilla and Leontochir ovallei (the latter two were chosen as outgroup) were evaluated using the AFLP marker technique in order to identify putative parental genotypes of the Alstroemeria cv. ‘Jubilee’ and of known interspecific hybrids, and to estimate their genetic relationships within the genus Alstroemeria. A total of 297 AFLP markers were scored by using the primer combination (E + ACCA/M + CTAG). In order to discriminate all Alstroemeria genotypes, cluster analysis (UPGMA) and principal coordinates analysis were performed. The Alstroemeria cv. ‘Jubilee’, of which the parents are unknown, had genetic distance (GD) 0.54 from Alstroemeria exserens, GD 0.57 from Alstroemeria garaventae, GD 0.62 from Alstroemeria gayana, and GD 0.66 from Alstroemeria hookeri cumminghiana. Thus, these four species are considered as putative parental genotypes. An interspecific hybrid (Alstroemeria aurea × Alstroemeria inodora), showed the smallest genetic distance from A. aurea (GD 0.56) and A. inodora (GD 0.45). The Alstroemeria ligtu group was distantly allocated from other Chilean species. We conclude that the AFLP marker technique appears to be a satisfactory tool for identifying the parental genotypes of interspecific hybrids in Alstroemeria.