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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CMQpSk/ryk/oHH089YWFO31k5nQiaBcPYSt1OPnUiLj38edDdUxtGMNCnUTmP08t
 5sbwk8ey1CGvGasPiBg4kA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001200846-03-000002.txt : 20030603
<SEC-HEADER>0001200846-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030603155201
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001200846-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030603

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SLAYMAN CAROLYN W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200846

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04389
		FILM NUMBER:		03730438

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O APPLERA CORP
		STREET 2:		301 MERRITT 7
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06856-5435
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038402000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APPLERA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000077551
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				061534213
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 MERRITT 7
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06851
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038402000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 MERRITT 7
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06851

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990129

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PERKIN ELMER CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077551</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLERA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABI/CRA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200846</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SLAYMAN CAROLYN W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Applied Biosystems Group Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>212</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>19.385</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9947</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></o
wnershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Celera Genomics Group Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>72</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>12.12</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2612</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Following the reported transaction, the reporting pers
on also beneficially and directly owned 7,216.60 Applied Biosystems Group Common Stock Units, including 19.38 Applied Biosystems Group Common Stock Units acquired in April 2003 pursuant to the dividend reinvestment feature of the Company's stock incentive plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Following the reported transaction, the reporting person also beneficially and directly owned 1,805.10 Celera Genomics Group Common Stock Units.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas P. Livingston, Attorney-in-Fact for Carolyn W. Slayman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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