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

Verona, Italy - 24/27 September, 2003

ISBN 88-900622-4-X

Poster Abstract - 2.29

AFLP analysis of relationships among fig genotypes (Ficus carica L.) in the Apulia region

P. Resta*, E. Ferrara**, M. Roselli*, R. Chaabane*, F. Lamaj*, G. Fanizza*

*) Dipartimento di Biologia e Chimica Agro-forestale e ambientale (DiBCA), Università degli Studi di Bari, Via Amendola 165/A

**) Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali, Università degli Studi di Bari, Via Amendola 165/A

germplasm, collection, synonimous, genetic diversity, multivariate analysis

Cultivar selection is needed in order to enhance fig cultivation in Apulia. This task is hampered, among other factors, by the existence of a large number of local denominations. At the beginning of the last century, 94 cultivar names were re-counted in the peninsula of Salento alone. The disformity of fig cultivation also causes an unavoidable depreciation of the product. Thus, it is necessary to shed light on the confusion in the varietal array. Together with morphological characteristics, DNA-based descriptors can be used to study genetic diversity. In addition to ascertaining hypothesised synonimous cultivars, DNA analyses can also be used to estimate the degree of similarity between cultivars, which can be useful information for breeding purposes. This study began by analyzing the collection gathered and maintained by the Department of Crop Production Science, University of Bari. This collection includes a sizeble number of the denominations known in the Apulian region. The objectives of the analyses were: 1) a preliminary estimate of the genetic diversity present in the collection; 2) the assessment of hypothesised and/or novel cases of synonimous cultivars. To this purpose a sample of the cultivars was analysed with more than 10 primer combinations (about 100 variables) by the AFLP technique.

Firstly, the result of this study shows that enough polymorphism can be detected at the DNA level among Apulian figs and that the different cultivars appear to be genetically distinct. The diversification also appears to be well above that detected by the traditional fruit and physiological trait analyses. Secondly, some denominations, previously hypothesised as being synonimous to the same cultivar, were confirmed by distinct clustering of the genotypes. This was the case for Petrelli, S. Giovanni, Bianco d’Oria, S. Antonio, whose DNA profiles appear virtually identical. The predictive value of DNA analyses for the purpose of cultivar identification and genetic correspondence is further discussed, as well as, their application in germplasm analysis and maintenance.