S02 - Session P3 - Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) analysis of repropagated Prunus accessions in the UK National Fruit Collection

Authors: Deepti Angra, Edward Venison, Matthew Ordidge *

Genetic resources of temperate tree fruit crops are generally maintained in ex-situ field collections. The UK National Fruit Collection (NFC) includes accessions of sweet cherry ( Prunus avium L.) sour cherry ( Prunus cerasus L.) and hybrid 'Duke' cherry ( Prunus × gondouini [Poit. and Turp.] Rehder) as well as European plums ( Prunus domestica L.) damsons, bullaces ( P. domestica subsp. insititia [L.] C.K. Schneider) mirabelles (subsp. syriaca [Borkh.] Janchen ex Mansfeld) greengages ( P. domestica subsp. italica [Borkh.] Gam) and cherry plums ( P. cerasifera Ehrh.); the collections contain 280 accessions of 'cherry' and 325 accessions of 'plum'. As part of the cyclical regeneration of the collections we have utilized simple sequence repeat (SSR) microsatellite markers to confirm the propagation, planting and labelling of trees in the newly repropagated field collection. DNA samples were extracted from all repropagated trees. SSR loci used were as recommended by the European Cooperative Program for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR). Findings of correct propagation, as well as any propagation errors and duplication identified in the collection, will be presented. Data will be made available through publication and aligned, where possible, with other collaborative efforts within ECPGR. The use of standardized marker sets in the management of genetic resource field collections allows the possibility of better co-ordinating conservation efforts through the comparison of holdings between genebanks.