IDENTIFICATION OF PEAR CULTIVARS BY MOLECULAR MARKERS

The characterization of the pear (Pyrus communis L.) germplasm collected in Piemonte (North Italy) has been carried out using molecular markers in order to establish the phylogenetic relationship between the cultivars and to confirm homonymy and synonymy cases supposed on the basis of morphological and phenological observations.

The results obtained by RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers concerned 17 cultivars, in particular: – a varietal group which includes three biotypes, present in collection under the name “Gudun”, with similar agronomic traits; – the cultivar Martin sec autunnale, which was found to be closer to the “Madernassa” type of pear than to the true “Martin sec” one; – a variety called S.5T, at first considered a seedling, bearing fruit with same characteristics as in “Abate Fétel” but with some differences as concerns the ripening time (5–6 days earlier in “S.5T”) and the growth habit of the plant.

The results of the DNA analysis indicated that the three “Gudun” could be sports of a same genotype of local origin and that “S.5T” is more likely a mutation of “Abate Fétel” than a seedling. “Martin sec autunnale” resulted to have different RAPD profiles from “Martin sec” and, on the contrary, could be an improved clone of “Madernassa”.

Symposium on Plant Biotechnology as a tool for the Exploitation of Mountain Lands

R. Botta, A. Akkak, G. Me, L. Radicati, V. Casavecchia

Pyrus communis, DNA, RAPD, germplasm

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.457.7