Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of genetic diversity and relationships of wild and cultivated peach (Prunus persica L.)

Abstract

To date, a narrow genetic base is a serious obstacle in peach (Prunus persica L.) production. Wild peach resources are useful germplasms for breeding new cultivars. In this study, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) were used to analyze the genetic diversity and relationships of wild and cultivated peach germplasms. These results showed that AFLP is an efficient technique for identifying the genetic relationships of wild and cultivated peach. Thirteen AFLP primer combinations generated a total of 377 scorable and clear fragments, all of which (100%) were polymorphic. Moreover, the polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.91 to 0.96 with a mean of 0.95. The results of the principal component analysis (PCoA) largely corresponded to those obtained using cluster analysis. The three principal axes accounted for 2.6%, 5.79%, and 25.26% of the total variation, respectively. In conclusion, wild peach germplasms should receive special attention to ensure their conservation.