Molecular Diversity of Local Spanish Sweet Cherry Cultivars by SSR and S-Locus Analysis

Sweet cherry cultivar renewal in fruit orchards is leading to the reduction of local genetic diversity and traditional cultivars are fallen into disuse. In order to conserve this genetic diversity it is necessary to collect maintain and characterize this autochthonous germplasm. Previous genetic and morphological analyses of local varieties from eastern Spain have revealed the existence of a genetic pool that is well differentiated from the rest of cultivated material. In this work local cherry varieties collected from northern Spain, the Mediterranean coast, the Balearic Islands as well as from the Spanish eastern regions have been analysed and compared by PCR and capillary electrophoresis detection using microsatellite markers and the S-locus. The work has allowed to determine genotype identities as well as to study the existing genetic diversity. Microsatellite analysis grouped the cultivars in various distinct clusters that mostly correlate with their geographical origin. S-allele diversity revealed higher frequency of certain S-alleles as well as the unique presence of some S-alleles in most isolated geographical areas. The results obtained will be useful for the management and conservation of this local germplasm