Prunus domestica L., P. insititia L., P. salicina Lindl. and P. cerasifera Ehrh. are the most important species included in the plum group. Many ÔcultivarsÕ have an undefined origin and share very similar morpho-phenological characteristics that make their identification difficult. This is the case of ÔRaması`nÕ, a group of Piedmontese genotypes whose fruits are small, ellipsoidal and very tasty. They are commonly considered as P. domestica varieties, even though on the basis of some morphological characteristics they are similar to other species such as P. insititia. In order to study the origin of this group, the DNA of 25 genotypes of ÔRaması`nÕ, and that of some ÔcultivarsÕ of P. domestica, P. insititia, P. cerasifera, P. salicina and two selections of P. spinosa L. was examined. The PCR-RAPDs method (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction) was used and all 69 primers that were tested generated more or less polymorphic bands. From the results of these analyses it can be supposed that the ÔRaması`nÕ plums are a single genetically heterogeneous group. Moreover it can probably be assumed that ÔRaması`nÕ arose from crosses between P. domestica and P. insititia.

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