Genetic diversity assessment and variety identification of peach (Prunus persica)‎ from Kurdistan Region-Iraq using AFLP markers

Abstract EN

The peach (Prunus persica) is an important member of the Rosaceae family, which contains many fruit, nut, and ornamental species.

It has a basic chromosome number of 8.

Amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) markers were used to determine the level of genetic diversity, genetic relationships, and fingerprinting of peach varieties cultivated in Kurdistan- Iraq.

A total of 21 samples have been collected from different districts of Kurdistan including Duhok, Erbil and Sulaymani.

The samples were analyzed by using AFLP markers.

Two primer combinations generated a total of 124 bands and among them 109 (87.9%) were polymorphic.

Using UPGMA clustering analysis method based on the similarity coefficient, varieties were separated into three major genetic clusters.

The first genetic cluster mostly includes (Korneet asfer, Floredasin, Motaem bkornet mobaker (ahmer), Sprink time, Nectar 4, Nectar 6, Ahmer myse, Badree, Mskee, Tenee, Esmailly, Migrant, Abo-zalma, Silverking).

The second genetic cluster includes (Read heaven, Sharly shapor).

While the third genetic cluster contains (Zard, Elberta, Zaefaran, Dixired, j.

h.

hale).

Genetic distance among 21 peach varieties were ranged from 0.0073 to 0.8572.

The lowest genetic distance (0.0073) was found between varieties (Tenee) and (Esmailly) which were collected from Erbil, whereas the highest genetic distance (0.8572) was found between varieties num (Badree) and (Elberta) collected from Duhok and Sulaymani respectively.

The results obtained in this study may assist peach cultivation and peach breeding programs in the region.