Intraespecific variability of peach (Prunus pérsica L. Batsch.) and plums (Prunus domestica) using RAMs

Abstract A sample of 41 Prunus materials from the deciduous collection of the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia was selected to evaluate its genetic diversity using eight primers for Random Amplified Microsatellite (RAMs). A total of 121 alleles were generated with molecular weights ranging between 260 and 1000 Kb. Three groups were formed, a similarity coefficient of 0.75, according to fruit characteristics and specie, found plum materials in group II. The percentage of polymorphic loci ranged from 71 to 99% for the primers CGA and CCA, respectively. The average value of heterozygosity was 0.33, much lower than values found in other genetic diversity studies in the genus Prunus. The RAMs technique showed to be a useful tool for assessing genetic diversity in deciduous fruit, discriminate the materials into three groups and identify the high degree of consanguinity between different Prunus species which should be exploited in hybridization strategies looking for obtaining new and improved materials.