Identification of RAPD Marker(s) Linked to the Gene (s) Controlling Flowering Time in F1 (♀) Almond Population from Controlled Crosses of  Tuono (♂) ×  Shahrood-12'

In this study flowering time and some morphological traits were evaluated during two years in a F1 almond progeny of seventy two seedlings from the cross between ‘Tuono’)intermediate flowering (and ‘Shahrood-12’) late flowering(cultivars. Modified-bulk segregant analysis with the application of the 155 RAPD primers، spanning the whole almond genome were used to identify molecular markers linked to flowering time in several selected descendants from the studied almond progeny. Results showed a quantitative inheritance of this trait in the progeny and then to all 72 progenies. The seedlings evaluated showed a wide range of flowering time between both progenitors and some of these descendants were earlier than the intermediate flowering progenitor ‘Tuono’. The results showed that BA-17600،1000، BC-05320، BC-06800، BC-141750، BC-17600، BC-20250، OPC-05850 and OPC-09700 markers were linked to late blooming and BA-04720،BB-10630،BC-092000،BD-12510andOPC-12350 were linked to early blooming time. After construction of the genetic map of population، QTL analysis was performed for flowering time. The results showed that BA-17 primer had 4 cM distance from one of the late flowering time loci. Also،the OPC-09 and BA-04 primers were located at 2 and 3 cM distances from one of the genes controlling early and late flowering time، respectively. Identification of genetic markers linked to blooming time in almond are very important، because utilization of these markers will help the indirect selection of genotypes for desirable bloom time in early generation to saving time and effort. According to the obtained results، with the development of these markers، the strategies of marker assisted selection can be used in breeding programs of almond، apricot، peach and other Prunus species.