Development of the S^f-RNase Gene-Specific PCR Primer Set for Japanese Apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.)

Abstract

Self-compatible cultivars of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.) have a horticultural advantage over self-incompatible ones because no cross-pollinizer tree is required. Self-incompatibility is gametophytic, as in other Prunus species. Self-compatible cultivars of Japanese apricot have a comon S-RNase (S^f-RNase) gene that can be used as a molecular marker for self-compatibility. In this study, we developed a PCR primer set, Ken2 and PM-R, from intron sequences of S^f-RNase gene, which can be used to specifically amplify the S^f-RNase gene fragment. Practical applications of the primer set for breeding programs for self-compatible Japanese apricot cultivars are discussed.