GENETIC ANALYSIS AND DNA FINGERPRINTING OF SWEET CHERRY CULTIVARS AND SELECTIONS USING AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISMS (AFLP)

Amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) were used to analyze genetic variation of and relationships between, sweet cherry cultivars and selections from the breeding program at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland. Fluorescently labeled DNA fragments were separated and detected using an automated genetic analyzer. After pre-screening with 30 primer combinations, 6 pairs of primers were used for the analysis of a total of 67 cultivars and selections. A total of 625 scorable fragments were obtained, of which 118 were polymorphic. An average of 20 markers per primer pair was revealed. Scoring the absence and presence of the 118 markers produced a unique binary code for each cultivar or selection. Genetic similarity was determined using simple match coefficient which counts both positive matches and negative matches within 118 polymorphic fragments over both cultivars. Simple match coefficient ranged from 0.47 to 0.89 among all tested cultivars and selections. When all common fragments were included, the 67 cultivars and selections shared 90% of the DNA fingerprints. AFLP analysis is a good DNA fingerprinting technique to evaluate genetic distance and relationships in small plant genomes such as sweet cherry and within a relatively inbred population. The unique profile generated will also be useful to assist with Breeders’ Rights issues.