Diversity Analysis of Prunus armeniaca Apricot by Molecular and Biochemical Aapproaches

Abstract

Genetic diversity and population structure of 50 accessions of the grown apricot cultivars in Jammu and Kashmir was investigated using SSR and ISSR markers. 46 microsatellites revealed that the observed heterozygosity was higher (0.547) than the expected heterozygosity (0.453) and the average heterozygosity was recorded as 0.448. Genotypes were clustered into two main clusters on the basis of UPGMA dendrogram. Four subpopulations were found in the sample of 50 genotypes taken under observation. The expected average heterozygosity and average population differentiation Fst within the population was 1.78 and 0.04 respectively. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that the major source of variation among the populations, was 95% within the populations. Four ISSR markers revealed that number of alleles per locus varied from 4 to 8 with a mean value of 6.75 per locus and the average effective number of alleles per locus was 1.54. Similarly, the polymorphic information content values ranged from 0.464 to 0.424 with a mean value of 0.424. Dendrogram clustered genotypes into two main clads on the basis of their origin. The population structure revealed two sub-populations with some admixtures. Average expected heterozygosity and population differentiation within two sub-populations was 0.1428 and 0.216 respectively. In the current research, variation in content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential was recorded in 15 apricot fruit varieties. Total phenols (89.9±1.5 mg GAE/g fw) and flavonoids (53.54±0.7 mg CE/g fw) were higher in wild variety 1. The highest content of total carotenoids (0.18±0.72 mg/g fw) and ascorbic acid (0.66±0.01 mg/g fw) was also found in wild variety 1. Highest content of protein and reducing sugar was observed in known variety Irani (12.3±0.6 mg BSAE/g) and (42.4 mg GE/g) respectively. This variety also depicted the highest percentage of total sugars (89.3 mg GE/g). Wild variety 1 extract showed highest radical scavenging activity (IC50 value 22.19 ± 1.6 µg/mL) and highest percentage