Investigation of variability of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) using morphological traits and microsatellite markers

• There is a high potential for selecting accessions according to their ripening season, fruit size, and TSS/TA ratio.
• A successful cross-species transferability of Prunus microsatellite is reported.
• ‘Tanasgol’ is clearly different from other cultivars.

In this study, 39 Iranian apricot cultivars and accessions were evaluated by means of 27 morphological traits and 10 microsatellite molecular markers. The results showed a wide variation in fruit quality attributes such as fruit weight, total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA). Most apricots had a relatively medium fruit size. There was a high correlation between fruit, pit, and kernel size, TSS, TA. Molecular data obtained from microsatellite markers revealed a total of 53 alleles, ranging from 3 to 8 alleles. The average of expected heterozygosity (He), observed heterozygosity (Ho), and polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.63, 0.52, and 0.56, respectively. UPGMA cluster analysis divided apricot cultivars into seven main groups.