S02 - Session P4 - Genetic variability study of Romanian sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars using RAPD molecular markers

Authors: Mihaela Iordachescu *, Maria Cristina Ionescu, Liliana Badulescu

One of the European Green Deal aims is to increase biodiversity in agriculture. To conserve local cultivars, primary sources of biodiversity, biological heritage and germplasm for plant breeders, it is essential to identify them at the genetic level. Nowadays, modern techniques use molecular markers to study the genetic diversity of the species/cultivars of interest. One of the fruit trees traditionally grown in Romania is the sweet cherry, being Romania one of the top producers of cherries worldwide. In the present study, the genetic variability of fifteen Romanian sweet cherry cultivars (Severin, Paul, Cetățuia, Boambe de Cotnari, Lucia, Rivan, Rubin, Alex, Bucium, Ludovic, Cociu, Iașirom, Andrei, George and Maria) present in the USAMV Bucharest orchard collection was analyzed using six RAPD molecular markers. The results have led to the identification of specific PCR fragments with the potential to become markers for valuable traits.