Proceedings of the XLVI Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics - SIGA Annual Congress

Giardini Naxos, Italy - 18/21 September, 2002

ISBN 88-900622-3-1

Poster Abstract - 1.26

STUDY ON PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DIFFERENT PLUM VARIETAL GROUPS

NASSI M.O.*, LEPORI G.*, RUFFA E.**, ME G.**, RADICATI L.**, VALENTINI N.**

*) Di.Va.P.R.A. - University of Turin

**) Dipartimento di Colture Arboree - University of Turin

plums, classification, local genotypes, molecular markers

Prunus domestica L. (European plum), P. insititia L. (Syriac plum), P. salicina LINDL. (Japanese plum), P. cerasifera EHRH.(cherry plums, Myrabolan) are the most important species comprised in the heterogeneous plum group. Self-incompatibility is frequently found in plums and several genotypes can rise from spontaneous crosses. Many cultivars have therefore undefined origin and share very similar morpho-phenological characters that make difficult their identification. This is the case of “Ramasìn” (or “Darmasìn” or “Dalmasìn”), a group of Piedmontese genotypes that share small, ellipsoidal and very tasteful fruits characterized by variable colour and ripening time. This group is widely cultivated both for their organoleptic features and the economic and agronomic value of their fruits. From a phylogenetic point of view, “Ramasìn” are commonly thought as P. domestica varieties even though, on the basis of some morphological characters they are similar to other species such as P. insisitia. In order to study the origin of this varietal group, DNA of 25 genotypes of “Ramasìn”, and that of some cultivars of P. domestica, P. insititia, P. cerasifera, P. salicina and two items of P. spinosa L. was examined. Moreover traditional characterization, based on morphological, and agronomic traits (size and shape of leaves and fruits, ripening time and fruit colour) was carried out on “Ramasìn” that lack of this kind of characterization.

RAPDs analysis showed a high relationship among the genotypes of “Ramasìn” examined that are placed in contiguous clusters with very low genetic distance. “Mirabella” (P. insititia) is close to “Ramasìn” clusters strengthening the hypotesis that these local genotypes could rise from P. insititia. P. domestica and P. salicina are placed in separated clusters as well as P. cerasifera and P. spinosa that are genetically more distant.