Molecular characterization of variability and relationships among almond (Prunus dulcis) cultivars and selected wild species of Amygdalus using RAPD markers.

摘要

Traditional methods to characterize and identify cultivars in fruit tree species are based on phenotypic observations and, consequently, these are slow, and subject to environmental influences. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technology was used to study the genetic relationships between 36 Iranian, European, American and Russian almond cultivars and three wild Amygdalus species (in Iran). Thirty-five 10-mer primers were used and all of them produced polymorphism. 695 polymorphic RAPD bands were detected out of 734. The similarity matrix showed that the genetic diversity within the tested cultivars were extensive. Similarity value among the studied cultivars ranged between 0.29 and 0.89 with a mean of 0.53. The maximum and minimum similarity was observed between Monagha and Sefid (0.90), and A. scoparia [Prunus scoparia] with Sangi28 genotype (0.29), respectively. Cluster analysis was computed based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient using UPGMA method and the resulting clusters were represented as a dendrogram. Thirty-five polymorphic primers discriminated among all the cultivars and species. Cluster analysis of similarity data, grouped the cultivars studied according to their geographic origin and/or their pedigree information. Iranian, European and American cultivars were clustered into three separate groups. Nonpareil and its mutant, Tardy-Nonpareil are clearly distinguished, with 80% similarity level. Monagha and Sefid are considered to be the same cultivar with different name; however, they were distinguished with 0.90 similarity level. It is believed that the cultivated almond emerged by selection from A. communis [Prunus dulcis]. According to our analysis, A. communis is about 50% similar to most of the cultivated almonds, and was clustered in the same group..