Abstract

Gametophytic self-incompatibility, governed by the S-locus, functions in various Prunus species, including the apricot. Knowledge of the S-genotypes in apricot cultivars is essential to establishing productive orchards, defining combinations of compatible cultivars. The identification and cloning of RNases in related species has enabled the use of molecular techniques to characterize S-genotypes in apricot cultivars. To identify the S-alleles associated with self-incompatibility, three pairs of specific primers were tested using PCR, evaluating 31 apricot genotypes. Only the EM-PC2 + EM-PC3 combination produced satisfactory amplifications for the cultivars studied. The results enabled the characterization of 10 apricot cultivars. This PCR-based molecular tool allows S-genotypes to be characterized quickly and efficiently.