DATABASING AFLP DIVERSITY IN WEEDY AND BREEDING POPULATIONS

¹ Department of Plant Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 58717 USA

² Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA

Weed scientists and plant breeders face similar challenges concerning the description and management of genetic diversity. Single genes, like herbicide resistance for weeds or photoperiod response for crop plants, may have enormous impact on fertility and fecundity. Operator carelessness may result in weed seed transmission over large distances, or in the production of an unrecorded (and unexpected) cross in a breeder's hybridization nursery. Knowing genotypic expectations for populations, then determining whether expectations are met can help strengthen research projects in both fields. We demonstrate the use of fluorescent AFLPs and the software package Genotyper to characterize the level of diversity in populations of Kochia and barley. These data are then used to evaluate the dynamics of the spread of herbicide resistance through local populations of Kochia, and the accuracy of our 1997 barley hybridization nursery.