Abstract:A molecular linkage map was constructed for P. deltoides Marsh ×P.cathayana Rehd. based on random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD)markers. The mapping pedigree consists of three generations with the F1 produced by interspecific hybridization between a P.deltoides female and a P.cathayana male. Threehundred random 10-base RAPD primers were screened in amplification reactions using DNA isolated from parents P.deltoides ,P.cathayana and their F1 recombinant inbred population consisting of 4 lines. Of these primers, 180 revealed at least one polymorphic RAPD locus which can be used by mapping. This map identified 20 linkage groups spanning 1899.4 cM(110 RAPD markers) with an average distance of 17.27 cM between markers. Linkage groups ranged from 187.8 to 37.1 cM in length and included from 3 to 10 markers, respectively. This map should facilitate the identification of markers that “tag" genes for pest and disease resistance and other traits in poplar. This is the first genetic map for P.deltoides ×P.cathayana and an important step towards the molecular breeding in poplar.