The apphcability of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers in the cultivated rubber tree, Hevea, was evaluated using 43 decamer oligonucleotide primers in a set of 24 clones selected in different South-East Asian countries. A total of 220 0.35-3.5 kb DNA fragments were amplified, of which 111 were polymorphic. Of these, 80 fragments (RAPD markers) which were repeatable and clearly scorable across all genotypes were used to estimate genetic distances among the clones tested. The estimated genetic distances ranged from 0.05 (RRll 308 and PB 5/51) to 0.75 (RRIC 100 and SCATC 88-13). A mean genetic distance of 0.5 indicates a rather high genetic variability among the tested clones. As expected, because of the breeding history of Hevea, UPGMA cluster analysis and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) indicated the absence of a distinct geographical grouping. The possible application of RAPD markers for clone identification and also for analysis of genetic relationships among Hevea clones is discussed.

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Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation and the regeneration of transgenic plants was achieved in Hevea brasiliensis. Immature anther-derived calli were used to develop transgenic plants. These calli were co-cultured with A. tumefaciens harboring a plasmid vector containing the H. brasiliensis superoxide dismutase gene (HbSOD) under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter. The beta-glucuronidase gene (uidA) was used for screening and the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (nptII) was used for selection of the transformed calli. Factors such as co-cultivation time, co-cultivation media and kanamycin concentration were assessed to establish optimal conditions for the selection of transformed callus lines. Transformed calli surviving on medium containing 300 mg l(-1) kanamycin showed a strong GUS-positive reaction. Somatic embryos were then regenerated from these transgenic calli on MS2 medium containing 2.0 mg l(-1) spermine and 0.1 mg l(-1) abscisic acid. Mature embryos were germinated and developed into plantlets on MS4 medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l(-1) gibberellic acid, 0.2 mg l(-1) kinetin (KIN) and 0.1 mg l(-1) indole-3-acetic acid. A transformation frequency of 4% was achieved. The morphology of the transgenic plants was similar to that of untransformed plants. Histochemical GUS assay revealed the expression of the uidA gene in embryos as well as leaves of transgenic plants. The presence of the uidA, nptII and HbSOD genes in the Hevea genome was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and genomic Southern blot hybridization analyses.

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