SRAP based genetic analysis of some apricot cultivars

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is an important fruit species in Turkey with high level of economic value. Sequence related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers were used for the first time to determine genetic diversity and relationships among Turkish and some foreign apricot cultivars. A total 87 bands were obtained from SRAP analysis and 63 of them (73%) were polymorphic. Similarity values among the apricot cultivars were found to be between 0.77 and 0.97. Considerable genetic diversity was determined within and between Turkish and foreign apricot cultivars. Four high chilling requiring cultivars (‘Levent’, ‘Aprikoz’, ‘Cologlu’ and ‘İsmailaga’) originated from Eastern Turkey clustered apart from the others. There was no clear grouping between European, South African, North American and other Turkish cultivars. Therefore it can be suggested that these cultivars, despite their different geographic origins, have similar genetic background.