Relative efficiency of morphological characters and molecular markers in the establishment of an apricot core collection.

In order to optimize the management of genetic resources, in most cases a representative sample of the germplasm collections needs to be developed. The establishment of a core collection is thus of major importance either to minimize the cost associated with the management of the associated germplasm or to apply analysis onto representative bases. In order to select a representative core collection among the Tunisian apricot germplasm of 110 accessions large, the Maximization strategy algorithm was used. This algorithm was shown to be the most convenient when using both morphological traits and molecular markers. Three core collections based on morphological characters, molecular markers or the combined data were compared. Our data indicate that both the molecular and the morphological markers have to be considered to obtain a core collection that represents the global diversity of the 110 accessions. Using this method, a subset of 34 selected accessions was found to represent accurately the 110 accessions present in the whole collection (75 to 100% for the morphological characters and 97% of the molecular markers). These results show that the combination of molecular and morphological markers is an efficient way to characterize the apricot core collection and provides an exhaustive coverage for the analyzed diversity on morphological and genetic bases.

Comparison of the genetic determinism of two key phenological traits, flowering and maturity dates, in three Prunus species: peach, apricot and sweet cherry.

The present study investigates the genetic determinism of flowering and maturity dates, two traits highly affected by global climate change. Flowering and maturity dates were evaluated on five progenies from three Prunus species, peach, apricot and sweet cherry, during 3-8 years. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) detection was performed separately for each year and also by integrating data from all years together. High heritability estimates were obtained for flowering and maturity dates. Several QTLs for flowering and maturity dates were highly stable, detected each year of evaluation, suggesting that they were not affected by climatic variations. For flowering date, major QTLs were detected on linkage groups (LG) 4 for apricot and sweet cherry and on LG6 for peach. QTLs were identified on LG2, LG3, LG4 and LG7 for the three species. For maturity date, a major QTL was detected on LG4 in the three species. Using the peach genome sequence data, candidate genes underlying the major QTLs on LG4 and LG6 were investigated and key genes were identified. Our results provide a basis for the identification of genes involved in flowering and maturity dates that could be used to develop cultivar ideotypes adapted to future climatic conditions.

Ethylene regulation of carotenoid accumulation and carotenogenic gene expression in colour-contrasted apricot varieties (Prunus armeniaca).

In order to elucidate the regulation mechanisms of carotenoid biosynthesis in apricot fruit (Prunus armeniaca), carotenoid content and carotenogenic gene expression were analysed as a function of ethylene production in two colour-contrasted apricot varieties. Fruits from Goldrich (GO) were orange, while Moniqui (MO) fruits were white. Biochemical analysis showed that GO accumulated precursors of the uncoloured carotenoids, phytoene and phytofluene, and the coloured carotenoid, beta-carotene, while Moniqui (MO) fruits only accumulated phytoene and phytofluene but no beta-carotene. Physiological analysis showed that ethylene production was clearly weaker in GO than in MO. Carotenogenic gene expression (Psy-1, Pds, and Zds) and carotenoid accumulation were measured with respect to ethylene production which is initiated in mature green fruits at the onset of the climacteric stage or following exo-ethylene or ethylene-receptor inhibitor (1-MCP) treatments. Results showed (i) systematically stronger expression of carotenogenic genes in white than in orange fruits, even for the Zds gene involved in beta-carotene synthesis that is undetectable in MO fruits, (ii) ethylene-induction of Psy-1 and Pds gene expression and the corresponding product accumulation, (iii) Zds gene expression and beta-carotene production independent of ethylene. The different results obtained at physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels revealed the complex regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in apricots and led to suggestions regarding some possible ways to regulate it.

Genetic linkage maps of two apricot cultivars ( Prunus armeniaca L.) compared with the almond Texas x peach Earlygold reference map for Prunus.

Several genetic linkage maps have been published in recent years on different Prunus species suggesting a high level of resemblance among the genomes of these species. One of these maps (Joobeur et al., Theor Appl Genet 97:1034-1041 [(1998); Aranzana et al., Theor Appl Genet 106:819-825 (2002b)] constructed from interspecific almond Texas x peach Earlygold F(2) progeny (TxE) was considered to be saturated. We selected 142 F(1) apricot hybrids obtained from a cross between P. armeniaca cvs. Polonais and Stark Early Orange for mapping. Eighty-eight RFLP probes and 20 peach SSR primer pairs used for the 'reference map' were selected to cover the eight linkage groups. One P. davidiana and an additional 14 apricot simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were mapped for the F(1) progeny. Eighty-three amplified fragment length polymorphisms were added in order to increase the density of the maps. Separate maps were made for each parent according to the 'double pseudo-testcross' model of analysis. A total of 141 markers were placed on the map of Stark Early Orange, defining a total length of 699 cM, and 110 markers were placed on the map of Polonais, defining a total length of 538 cM. Twenty-one SSRs and 18 restriction placed in the TxE map were heterozygous in both parents (anchor loci), thereby enabling the alignment of the eight homologous linkage groups of each map. Except for 15 markers, most markers present in each linkage group in apricot were aligned with those in TxE map, indicating a high degree of colinearity between the apricot genome and the peach and almond genomes. These results suggest a strong homology of the genomes between these species and probably between Prunophora and Amygdalus sub-genera.

Genetic diversity in apricot revealed by AFLP markers: species and cultivar comparisons.

The genetic diversity of apricot ( Prunus armeniaca; 2n = 16) was studied using AFLP markers. Forty seven apricot cultivars were selected from the following geographic regions: Europe, North America, North Africa, Turkey, Iran and China. Five EcoRI- MseI AFLP primer combinations revealed 416 legible bands, of which 379 were polymorphic markers. A similarity matrix was prepared using the simple matching coefficient of similarity. A UPGMA dendrogram demonstrated a gradient of decreasing genetic diversity of varieties from the former USSR to Southern Europe. This is coherent with the historical dissemination of apricot from its center of origin in Asia. The American cultivars were intermediate demonstrating a different genetic base than the European and/or Mediterranean cultivars. Euclidean distances from the first ten Factorial Component Analysis coordinate axes were used to generate a tree using the Ward algorithm. The results of these analyses were evaluated based on the known geographic origins and agronomic characteristics of the cultivars studied. Four cultivar groups were identified: Diversification, Geographically Adaptable, Continental Europe and Mediterranean Basin. To evaluate the relationship of the common apricot with some closely related species, one or two accessions of the following related species or sub-species from within the section Armeniaca were included in the analysis: Prunus armeniaca var. ansu, Prunus mume, Prunus brigantiaca, Prunus dasycarpa, and Prunus holosericea. A Neighbour Joining dendrogram was made using the similarity matrix. The P. holosericea accession fell well within the cultivar group, thus supporting its classification as a variant of P. armeniaca. The P. armeniaca var. ansu accession was sister to the common apricot cluster with a bootstrap value of 96%. P. mume was farther removed. P. brigantiaca was the most-distant from the common apricots. P. dasycarpa was intermediate between P. brigantiaca and P. mume, in accord with its plum-apricot hybrid origin. The results have a direct application for the selection of new breeding progenitors.

Localization of Plum pox virus in stem and petiole tissues of apricot cultivars by immuno-tissue printing.

Localization of Plum pox virus (PPV) in stem and petiole tissues of four susceptible and four resistant apricot cultivars has been studied. Consecutive 1-mm spaced transverse sections were taken from the tissues and were printed onto nitrocellulose membrane in duplicate. For virus-specific detection, one series of prints was probed with an antibody to PPV coat and the density of stains was evaluated by light microscopy. Another series of prints was treated with a substrate but not with the antibody to reveal non-specific staining due to endogenous peroxidases. The virus was currently detected in all inoculated susceptible cultivars but only in one inoculated resistant cultivar (Harcot). In the stem tissues, the virus was localized in the pith and in the xylem. In the petiole tissues, it was localized in the epidermis and in cortical and medullae parenchyma. Non-specific staining was observed only in the stem sclerenchyma and in the petiole phloem.

Efficiency of inoculation of peach GF305 seedlings with Plum pox virus by different methods.

Peach GF305 is frequently used as rootstock in experiments to evaluate the resistance of different species of Prunus to Plum pox virus (PPV) because of its extreme susceptibility. However, transmission of PPV in Prunus species is sometimes problematic due to its low concentration or uneven distribution in these species. To determine the most effective way of transmitting the virus, different infection methods (by aphids, grafting, mechanical infection and injection) were tested using Dideron PPV isolates. The most effective method was the grafting of herbaceous material with inoculum derived from similar herbaceous material. Infection by aphids was more laborious and less effective than grafting, showing many disadvantages. Neither mechanical infection nor injection transmitted the virus.