Identification of microsatellite markers linked to morphological and biochemical traits in Iranian native apple (Malus × domestica. Borkh) cultivars

In this study, genetic fingerprinting of 44 Iranian native apple cultivars were done using 16 simple sequence repeat pairs of primers and then the association of these markers with 16 morphological and biochemical traits were inspected. Based on marker data, 45 alleles were identified using 16 SSR pairs of primers. The number of allele per SSR locus was varied between 2 to 5 with mean of 2.8. Here in, the mean of number of effective allele was 2.2. Polymorphism information content ranged from 0.18 to 0.76 with mean of 0.49. To identify positive markers associated with studied traits, step wise regression was done among marker data as independent variables and studied traits as dependent variables. Results revealed that there is not any linked marker for traits including chlorophyll index, angle of branch and trunk cross sectional area. Considering to association analysis, thirteen traits include fruit volume, fruit diameter, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit firmness, days to ripening, organic acid content, total soluble solids, vitamin C, pH, leaf size, internodes length and tree height had linked SSR markers. The maximum number of allele (6 alleles) was seen for days to ripening and minimum number of allele (1 allele) was seen for traits including PH, fruit weight, fruit firmness and tree height. Regarding linkage between some SSR alleles with some traits, this is possible to use these markers in apple breeding programs effectively.