Self-incompatibility and S-allele identification in new apricot cultivars

Abstract

In the last years, an important renewal of plant material is taking place in apricot, with the introduction of new cultivars from different breeding programs. The pollination requirements of many of these cultivars are unknown. In this work, the self-(in)compatibility and the S-alleles have been studied in 40 apricot cultivars. Self-(in)compatibility was analysed by self- and cross-pollination experiments followed by the observation of pollen tube growth through the pistil under the microscope. The S-alleles of the cultivars analysed were determined by PCR amplification of the S-RNase gene. The self-(in)compatibility and the S-RNase genotype of 31 cultivars are firstly reported here, identifying one new apricot S-RNase allele. These results, combined with information from previous studies, allow allocating the cultivars in their corresponding incompatibility group.