Phylogenetic relationships among five species of Armeniaca Scop.(Rosaceae) using microsatellites(SSRs) and capillary electrophoresis

The genus Armeniaca Scop.is well known for its popular cultivated edible fruit trees such as Armeniaca vulgaris Lam.and ornamental flowers such as A.mume Sieb.Another species,A.cathayana Fu et al.,one of six important dry fruits(kernel-using apricot),is cultivated for its edible seeds in North China.In the present study,DNA from 70 individuals of Armeniaca,including 38 of A.cathayana,18 of A.vulgaris,12 of A.sibirica,1 of A.dasycarpa and 1 of A.mume,was extracted and analyzed using microsatellites and capillary electrophoresis.For 20 polymorphic loci selected,339 alleles and 140.7 effective alleles were detected.The number of alleles per locus ranged from 8 to 28,with an average of 16.95 alleles per locus.The observed heterozygosity(Ho) and the expected heterozygosity(He) ranged from 0.427 to 0.971 and from 0.737 to 0.912,respectively.The polymorphism information content varied from 0.708 to0.905,with an average of 0.827.Based on the genetic similarity among 70 individuals,a UPGMA was used to establish the phylogenetic relationships.The taxonomic positions among five species were clearly revealed,and A.cathayana was more closely related to A.vulgaris than to A.sibirica.The results will provide a scientific basis for research on the taxonomy,germplasm resources and breeding of Armeniaca,especially for A.cathayana.