A set of 74 polymorphic RAPD bands was used to generate the
genetic similarity index among the 42 accessions of Barberton
daisy genotypes. In the present study, we have found genetic
similarity indices inferior to those from the work by Chung et al.
(2001), to our knowledge, the only study of gerbera genetic
variation using RAPD markers. The authors used the afore
mentioned index (Jaccard) to analyze the genetic diversity of
Gerbera hybrida and found an average of 0.72, in comparison to the
average index of 0.55 calculated for our data. Similarly, the range of
the index ranged from 0.50 to 0.90 in contrast to the range of 0.28–
1.00 in the present study, suggesting that the accessions
investigated in our study are more divergent genetically than
those employed in the earlier study