Abstract
The genetic variance analysis of 82 almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) genotypes was performed using ten genomic simple sequence repeats (SSRs). A total of 50 genotypes from Tunisia including local landraces identified while prospecting the different sites of Bizerte and Sidi Bouzid (Northern and central parts) which are the most important locations of almond diversity in Tunisia were included. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was performed for 11 populations from these different regions and foreign countries to examine the distribution of genetic variation of the accessions studied. Results show that the major variation occurred within populations in each geographic site. Additionally, this analysis demonstrates that the genetic diversity within local almond cultivars was important, with a clear geographic distinction between the Northern and the Southern Tunisian cultivars. The value of prospecting new sites, preserving genetic diversity and encouraging on farmers almond collections is also discussed. Key words: Prunus dulcis Mill., Genetic resources, AMOVA, local ecotypes, geographic origin, Tunisia.
Highlights
In Tunisia, the almond Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A
The 50 Tunisian local genotypes were from the region of Bizerte, Nefta, Sfax and Tozeur that are either preserved in the National Collection of Ettaous, or originated from recent prospection undertaken in the regions of Sidi Bouzid and Bizerte (Figure 1)
Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) calculations were performed (Table 4) with 11 populations grouped by their geographic origin into three groups as described in the material and methods and divided into 11 populations: The G1 with local cultivars from South (Tozeur and Nefta), Center (Sidi Bouzid): Ben Aoun, Ouled Haffouz and Regueb; G2 grouped the American cultivars in addition to the Tunisians from Bizerte that were added to this group according to the results of the dendrogram (Figure 2), which surprisingly allocated this population in the same cluster with the American cultivars and G3 including cultivars from France, Italy, Spain
Summary
In Tunisia, the almond Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb, syn. P. amygdalus Batsch sector, plays an important social economic role with approximately 22 millions of trees dispersed on more than 200,000 ha (FAOSTAT, 2010). The Tunisian almond plantations located throughout all the country under different climatic conditions offered stable incomes for rural farmers. About 90% of the land devoted to this fruit crop is in the Central and Southern agricultural area of the country under arid and semi-arid conditions. Bizerte (37°16’N, 9°52’E), Sidi Bouzid (35°04’N, 9°49’E) and Sfax (34°44’N, 10°46’E)
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