2004 Volume 54 Issue 3 Pages 239-244
Cross-genus application of SSR markers developed in pear and apple was examined for quince (Cydonia oblonga) in order to conduct a genetic characterization. It was revealed that 77 out of 118 SSR markers producing 1 or more reproducible amplified bands could be used in quince, including 20 SSRs from pear and 57 SSRs from apple. Twenty quince varieties, including 15 accessions, 3 clones of ‘Smyrna’ and 2 clones of ‘Kaori’, were analyzed by using 39 polymorphic SSRs. A total of 122 polymorphic amplified fragments were obtained by using 39 SSR markers, which could divide 20 varieties into 12 genotypes. Cultivars vegetatively propagated and maintained in different areas showed identical SSR genotypes. Parentage of ‘Kaori’ was confirmed because all the putative alleles of ‘Kaori’ were transmitted from its parents ‘Smyrna’ and ‘Zairaishu’ without any discrepancy at tested SSR markers. A phenogram based on genetic similarity was constructed, showing major groups corresponding to the purposes of fruit production and rootstocks. Nine cultivars including almost all the varieties used as rootstocks showed only 0 to 4 differences in SSR fragments, suggesting that these cultivars were genetically very close. The SSR markers could be utilized as a reliable tool for the identification of quince varieties.
