This study aimed to characterize the genetic variability in commercial accessions of passion fruit from the Federal District, Brazil, by RAPD markers. Genetic analyses were done with leaf samples of 30 accessions. DNA samples were amplified by RAPD technique, and respective markers converted into a binary matrix, from which the genetic distances between the accessions were estimated. Clustering analyis based on genetic distances allowed to detect a wide range of genetic variabillity among the accessions of sour passion fruit, and to separate them from the two sweet passion fruit. The graphical positioning of 'BRS Ouro Vermelho' confirms its potential to improve the genetic variability of commercial varieties of sour passion fruit. Dispersal of genetic distances among commercial accessions of sour passion fruit supports evidence for different genetic origins of the materials planted in the Federal District. The verified genetic variability indicates the potential success of future breeding programs for this region.
diversity; passion fruit; plant breeding; RAPD analysis
