Study of genetic diversity and eco-geographic groups in some apricot cultivars and genotypes using flurescent-AFLP markers

Abstract

Apricot (Prunus armenica L.), a fruit species of the family Rosaceae, genus Prunus is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East, especially in Iran. Suitable climatic conditions for apricot production and its economic importance were the main reasons for its vast area under cultivation and diversity. Genetic diversity of 42 apricot cultivars and genotypes collected from new Iranian and Czech Republic collections was studied using fluorescent-AFLP markers. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic structure and genotypic diversity among different eco-geographical populations. The results showed that five pairs of fluorescent-AFLP primers showed clear banding patterns and high level of polymorphism amongst the 30 pairs of primers screened. The total bands were 187 and MGAG ETG primer showed 63% polymorphism among primers that was the highest quantity of polymorphism. Based on the application of genotypes from breeding programs, Hybridization and selection, there were not appropriate results from UPGMA method. We used RB method to analyze the relationship among samples. Six groups of cultivars and genotypes were detected based on their origin and geographical distribution. Our findings showed that in comparison with traditional AFLP, fluorescent-AFLP markers are more efficient in evaluating genetic diversity and population structure among studied apricot genotypes and could be useful in other Prunus fruit tree species

Keywords

• apricot
• fluorescent aflp-markers
• polymorphism
• genetic diversity