Identification of S alleles associated with self-incompatibility in capuli (<em>Prunus ser&oacute;tina</em> subsp. <em>capul&iacute;</em>) samples by amplification of the Intron I of the S-RNasa gene

Abstract

In plants, gametophytic self-incompatibility is a genetic mechanism regulated by the S locus, which has evolved to prevent self-fertilization. In fruit crops, information regarding the allelic composition of the S locus is essential for the establishment of productive orchards, as this allelic composition defines compatible combinations between individuals. The identification and cloning of S-RNase genes in Prunus species has allowed the development of molecular techniques for the characterization of S genotypes in wild and less-studied species of the genus. In this study we evaluated 80 individuals of capulí (Prunus serotina subsp. capulí) collected from 8 provinces of the Ecuadorian highlands to determinate the degree of allelic diversity of the S locus in this species. The molecular characterization of S loci was performed using degenerate primers designed from conserved regions of the S-RNase gene of several Prunus species. PCR products were separated on agarose gels, classified based on band size and sequenced. Our results reveal the presence of 11 alleles across sampled individuals. Generally, identified alleles showed a high percentage of identity with S-locus sequences reported for other species of the genus and it can be speculated that these derive from a common ancestor. By contrast, sequences with a lower percentage of identity may have originated independently following the diversification of Prunus species. The results obtained in this study should be complemented with field tests to confirm the phenotypic behavior of the capuli individuals analyzed.

Keywords

• Prunus serotina
• auto-incompatibilidad
• alelos S
• primers consenso