Genetic Diversity in Apricot Orchards Across Key Growing Regions in Slovakia and Austria, Along with Cultivar Authentication of Apricot Genotypes Found in the Market

This study was aimed at evaluating the genetic diversity and authentication of apricot cultivars from Slovak and Austrian orchards. Eleven highly polymorphic SSR markers were used to analyse 53 apricot genotypes. A high level of genetic diversity was observed, with a mean of 13 alleles per locus and...

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Main Authors: Martina Hudcovicová, Lenka Klčová, Marcela Gubišová, Jozef Gubiš, Erika Zetochová, Micha Horacek, Ján Kraic, Michaela Havrlentová, Katarína Ondreičková
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2444
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author Martina Hudcovicová
Lenka Klčová
Marcela Gubišová
Jozef Gubiš
Erika Zetochová
Micha Horacek
Ján Kraic
Michaela Havrlentová
Katarína Ondreičková
author_facet Martina Hudcovicová
Lenka Klčová
Marcela Gubišová
Jozef Gubiš
Erika Zetochová
Micha Horacek
Ján Kraic
Michaela Havrlentová
Katarína Ondreičková
author_sort Martina Hudcovicová
collection DOAJ
description This study was aimed at evaluating the genetic diversity and authentication of apricot cultivars from Slovak and Austrian orchards. Eleven highly polymorphic SSR markers were used to analyse 53 apricot genotypes. A high level of genetic diversity was observed, with a mean of 13 alleles per locus and a mean expected heterozygosity of 0.811. The most polymorphic locus, UDP97-402, exhibited a probability of identity of 0.025, indicating a high discriminatory power. Differentiation analyses revealed distinct groupings of cultivars based on geographical origin and pedigree. Central European cultivars, particularly those related to the landrace ‘Hungarian Best’, formed a distinct cluster. Modern Slovakian cultivars, influenced by the genetic background of cultivars from China and Central Asia, showed a higher level of genetic diversity. The Western European and North American cultivars formed a separate cluster. The developed SSR database proved to be effective in identifying apricot cultivars and detecting mislabelled or misidentified samples. A significant proportion (74%) of samples from commercial orchards were properly and correctly labelled, while 26% were mislabelled. Fifty-three per cent of samples from shops without a cultivar name were successfully identified, and their labels were verified. These results highlight the potential of SSR markers for genetic diversity assessment and cultivar identification in apricots. The results contribute to a better understanding of apricot genetic resources and provide valuable information for breeding programmes, germplasm conservation, and cultivar authentication.
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spelling doaj-art-a15fee67cae44bf19e5d29242ea629bd2025-08-20T02:57:40ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01155244410.3390/app15052444Genetic Diversity in Apricot Orchards Across Key Growing Regions in Slovakia and Austria, Along with Cultivar Authentication of Apricot Genotypes Found in the MarketMartina Hudcovicová0Lenka Klčová1Marcela Gubišová2Jozef Gubiš3Erika Zetochová4Micha Horacek5Ján Kraic6Michaela Havrlentová7Katarína Ondreičková8National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, 92168 Piešťany, SlovakiaNational Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, 92168 Piešťany, SlovakiaNational Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, 92168 Piešťany, SlovakiaNational Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, 92168 Piešťany, SlovakiaNational Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, 92168 Piešťany, SlovakiaDepartment of Lithospheric Research, Vienna University, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, AustriaNational Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, 92168 Piešťany, SlovakiaNational Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, 92168 Piešťany, SlovakiaNational Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Bratislavská cesta 122, 92168 Piešťany, SlovakiaThis study was aimed at evaluating the genetic diversity and authentication of apricot cultivars from Slovak and Austrian orchards. Eleven highly polymorphic SSR markers were used to analyse 53 apricot genotypes. A high level of genetic diversity was observed, with a mean of 13 alleles per locus and a mean expected heterozygosity of 0.811. The most polymorphic locus, UDP97-402, exhibited a probability of identity of 0.025, indicating a high discriminatory power. Differentiation analyses revealed distinct groupings of cultivars based on geographical origin and pedigree. Central European cultivars, particularly those related to the landrace ‘Hungarian Best’, formed a distinct cluster. Modern Slovakian cultivars, influenced by the genetic background of cultivars from China and Central Asia, showed a higher level of genetic diversity. The Western European and North American cultivars formed a separate cluster. The developed SSR database proved to be effective in identifying apricot cultivars and detecting mislabelled or misidentified samples. A significant proportion (74%) of samples from commercial orchards were properly and correctly labelled, while 26% were mislabelled. Fifty-three per cent of samples from shops without a cultivar name were successfully identified, and their labels were verified. These results highlight the potential of SSR markers for genetic diversity assessment and cultivar identification in apricots. The results contribute to a better understanding of apricot genetic resources and provide valuable information for breeding programmes, germplasm conservation, and cultivar authentication.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2444breedingcultivar identificationheterozygositypedigreepopulation structureSSR markers
spellingShingle Martina Hudcovicová
Lenka Klčová
Marcela Gubišová
Jozef Gubiš
Erika Zetochová
Micha Horacek
Ján Kraic
Michaela Havrlentová
Katarína Ondreičková
Genetic Diversity in Apricot Orchards Across Key Growing Regions in Slovakia and Austria, Along with Cultivar Authentication of Apricot Genotypes Found in the Market
Applied Sciences
breeding
cultivar identification
heterozygosity
pedigree
population structure
SSR markers
title Genetic Diversity in Apricot Orchards Across Key Growing Regions in Slovakia and Austria, Along with Cultivar Authentication of Apricot Genotypes Found in the Market
title_full Genetic Diversity in Apricot Orchards Across Key Growing Regions in Slovakia and Austria, Along with Cultivar Authentication of Apricot Genotypes Found in the Market
title_fullStr Genetic Diversity in Apricot Orchards Across Key Growing Regions in Slovakia and Austria, Along with Cultivar Authentication of Apricot Genotypes Found in the Market
title_full_unstemmed Genetic Diversity in Apricot Orchards Across Key Growing Regions in Slovakia and Austria, Along with Cultivar Authentication of Apricot Genotypes Found in the Market
title_short Genetic Diversity in Apricot Orchards Across Key Growing Regions in Slovakia and Austria, Along with Cultivar Authentication of Apricot Genotypes Found in the Market
title_sort genetic diversity in apricot orchards across key growing regions in slovakia and austria along with cultivar authentication of apricot genotypes found in the market
topic breeding
cultivar identification
heterozygosity
pedigree
population structure
SSR markers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2444
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