Morphological and Molecular Characterization of a New Self-Compatible Almond Variety

Niki Mougiou, Persefoni Maletsika, Aristarhos Konstantinidis, Katerina Grigoriadou, George Nanos and Anagnostis Argiriou ()
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Niki Mougiou: Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thermi, Greece
Persefoni Maletsika: Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fitoko Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
Aristarhos Konstantinidis: Vitro Hellas S.A., Niseli, 59300 Alexandria, Greece
Katerina Grigoriadou: Vitro Hellas S.A., Niseli, 59300 Alexandria, Greece
George Nanos: Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Fitoko Str., 38446 Volos, Greece
Anagnostis Argiriou: Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thermi, Greece

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Almonds are one of the most popular nuts, cultivated in countries with Mediterranean climates. In an almond orchard of the self-incompatible cultivar ‘Ferragnes’ in Greece, a tree with different morphological characteristics and signs of self-compatibility was observed. The aim of this study was to study the phenotype, investigate the self-compatibility trait, and elucidate the phylogenetic background of this tree, named ‘Mars’. Morphological traits and kernel and nut characteristics were measured in ‘Mars’, ‘Ferragnes’, ‘Tuono’, and ‘Lauranne’ cultivars. The self-compatibility trait of almonds is attributed to the S f allele; thus, its existence was investigated in ‘Mars’ by PCR amplification. Moreover, the S -RNase genes of all the cultivars were sequenced. The genetic profile of ‘Mars’ was identified using eight SSR molecular markers and compared with the ‘Ferragnes’, ‘Ferraduel’, ‘Texas’, ‘Tuono’, and ‘Lauranne’ cultivars. The morphological traits suggest that ‘Mars’ is more similar to the ‘Ferragnes’ cultivar, while it bears the S f allele. S -RNases sequencing revealed that ‘Mars’ has the genotype S 1 S f , and the SSR markers showed that it is differentiated genetic material, suggesting it is a cross between ‘Ferragnes’ and ‘Tuono’. Therefore, ‘Mars’ is evaluated as a self-compatible variety with interesting agronomic traits for use in new mono-cultivar almond plantations.

Keywords: Prunus dulcis; SSR markers; S -RNase genes; agronomical traits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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