Genetic Structure and Molecular Identities of 46 Apple Landraces (Malus Mill.) in China

Abstract

In this study, we used genotyping to determine the genetic structure and molecular identities of apple landraces from six species of Malus Mill. in China, based on the fingerprints revealed by microsatellite markers with tailed primer M13. A total of 46 apple landraces of Malus Mill. selected from the National Apple and Pear Germplasm Repository in Xingcheng, China were genotyped with 14 SSR markers. The primers differentiated all the accessions. At least three SSR primers, CH04h02, CH01f07a and CH04g07, with a higher heterozygosity and Shannon’s information index than other combinations can distinguish all the accessions. All the alleles for these three primers were arranged in descending order, and they were assigned values beginning with 01. Character strings were constituted by combining all the codes of the three primers for every accession. By such means, separate and special molecular identities were obtained for every apple landrace, which could be expressed in the form of a bar code. Using such bar codes, trees can be labeled and scanned, which aids in the identification and tracking of genebank collections. The eight-step method for establishing the molecular identities of apple landraces reported here may serve as a reference when determining the molecular identities establishment of other apple germplasms of Malus Mill. This method might also be used for the establishment of a molecular database to aid the preservation of Malus Mill., which is in imminent danger in China. It may also be used to improve the gene bank management of Malus Mill.