Comparative analysis of traditional and modern apricot breeding programs: A case of study with Spanish and Tunisian apricot breeding germplasm

Mohamed A Batnini,Neila Trifi-Farah,Hedia Bourguiba,David Ruiz,Pedro Martínez-Gómez,Lamia Krichen,Manuel Rubio

doi:10.5424/sjar/2016143-8638

Abstract

Traditional plant breeding is based on the observation of variation and the selection of the best phenotypes, whereas modern breeding is characterised by the use of controlled mating and the selection of descendants using molecular markers. In this work, a comparative analysis of genetic diversity in a traditional (Tunisian) and a modern (Spanish) apricot breeding programme was performed at the phenotypic and molecular level using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Seven phenotypic traits were evaluated in 42 Tunisian apricot accessions and 30 genotypes from the Spanish apricot programme. In addition, 20 SSR markers previously described as linked to specific phenotypic traits were assayed. Results showed that modern breeding using controlled crosses increases the size of the fruit. The fruit weight average observed in the Tunisian cultivars was of 20.15 g. In the case of traditional Spanish cultivars the average weight was 47.12 g, whereas the average weight of the other progenitors from France, USA and South Africa was 72.85 g. Finally, in the new releases from the CEBAS-CSIC breeding programme, the average weight was 72.82 g. In addition, modern bred cultivars incorporate desirable traits such as self-compatibility and firmness. Cluster and structural analysis based on SSR data clearly differentiates the genotypes according to their geographic origin and pedigree. Finally, results showed an association between some alleles of PaCITA7 and UDP96003 SSR markers with apricot fruit weight, one allele of UDAp407 marker with fruit firmness and one allele of UDP98406 marker with fruit ripening.

Highlights

Plant breeding programmes involve the application of different genetic techniques in order to obtain new varieties with improved productivity, fruit quality and resistance to existing diseases
Traditional plant breeding is based on the observation of variation and the selection of the best phenotypes, whereas modern breeding is characterised by the use of controlled mating and the selection of descendants using molecular markers
The objective of this work was to perform a comparative analysis of genetic diversity in Spanish and Tunisian apricot germplasm, from a traditional and a modern apricot breeding program respectively, at the phenotypic and molecular level using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

Summary

Introduction

Plant breeding programmes involve the application of different genetic techniques in order to obtain new varieties with improved productivity, fruit quality and resistance to existing diseases. On the other hand, is characterised by the use of controlled mating and by the subsequent monitoring of the recombination obtained using molecular markers. Traditional Prunus breeding based on selection and propagation of the best individuals open-pollinated have been practiced for thousands of years. Nowadays, these traditional methods continue to be the basis for breeding and production in different countries and for many species. In the 1920s, the University of California (USA) had the first modern breeding programme based on controlled pollinations in almond. Breeding programmes began using molecular markers in the early 1990s in characterisation, recombination monitoring and the selection of desirable traits (Martínez-Gómez et al, 2003)

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion