Genetic relationships between apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) and related species using AFLP markers

A few genetic diversity studies in apricot, using isoenzymes, RAPD or RFLP markers, have been published and each has been primarily focused on within-group variation. Here, AFLP analysis was used to study the genetic variation among four apricot cultivars (Prunus armeniaca) and one or two trees of the following related species or sub-species: P. armeniaca var. ansu, P. mume, P. brigantiaca, P. dasycarpa, P. holocericea. These genotypes are part of the larger germplasm collection at INRA, Montfavet. Five EcoRI-MseI AFLP primer combinations having three selective nucleotides each were used, and the analysis is based on 417 markers. For each primer combination, all genotypes were loaded on a single gel and two independent readings were made. A similarity matrice was constructed according to the Simple Matching coefficient and the Neighbor Joining dendrogram with bootstrap analysis is presented.