The Cultivar Development Division offers DNA fingerprinting as
a diagnostic service to growers, nurseries and plant breeders. We are regularly
approached to establish the authenticity of plant material and to determine
true-to-type plants from diverse plant sources, including rootstocks. DNA
fingerprinting can have far reaching influence in preventing the fraudulent
commerce of plant material and in protecting plant breeder’s rights and sole
grower rights.
It can also be a means by which growers can ensure that they
are not provided with incorrect material, simply because this technique is
quicker and not influenced by environmental conditions. For the breeders we can
screen populations for the presence or absence of genes which confer resistance
to the plant.
Contact:
Molecular Microbiologist: Sieyaam
Safodien M.Sc. (Microbiology), safodiens@arc.agric.za, (T) +27 (0) 21
809 3480/1
