Evaluation of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars for fruit size by FW_G2a QTL analysis and phenotypic characterization

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 292; p. 110656
• Main Authors: Szilágyi, S., Horváth-Kupi, T., Desiderio, F., Bekefi, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 27.01.2022
• Subjects: Fruit breeding; Fruit size; FW_G2a; Prunus avium; QTL; SSR; QTL; Fruit breeding; FW_G2a; SSR; Fruit size; Prunus avium
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2021.110656

•Sweet cherry fruit size SSR marker results correspond to phenotype.•Genotyping the locus FW_G2a is an effective but not an exclusive tool for cherry fruit size prediction.•Among Hungarian sweet cherry cultivars, Germersdorfi Óriás, Katalin, Vera.•Krupnoplodnaya and Carmen proved to be homozygous for large fruit size regarding the locus FW_G2a. Large fruit size of sweet cherry cultivars has high priority in breeding programs due to its high market value. According to recent studies more loci were identified corresponding to fruit size trait in cherries. In our study 15 Hungarian sweet cherry cultivars were evaluated for the locus FW_G2a on LG2 and genetic results were compared with phenotypic data of 3–8 years. Average fruit weight of sweet cherries ranged from 3.9 g (Müncheberger Frühe) to 10.3 g (Carmen). Haplotypes associated with large fruit size were found in 11 cultivars, of which five (Germersdorfi Óriás, Katalin, Vera, Krupnoplodnaya, Carmen) proved to be homozygous. Two cultivars (Petrus and Stella) carried the haplotypes associated with small fruit size. Statistical analysis revealed correlation between genotype data and fruit weight phenotype. Our results confirmed that genotyping the locus FW_G2a is an effective tool in early selection of individuals and can be utilized in cherry breeding programs.