Self-incompatibility alleles in Iranian pear cultivars

In the present study, the S-alleles of eighteen pear cultivars, (including fourteen cultivars planted commercially in Iran and four controls) are determined. 34 out of 36 S-alleles are detected using nine allele-specific primers, which are designed for amplification of S-101/S-102, S-105, S-106, S-107, S-108, S-1(09), S-111, S-112 and S-114, as well as consensus primers, PycomC1F and PycomC5R. S-104, S-101 and S-105 were the most common S-alleles observed, respectively, in eight, seven and six cultivars. In 16 cultivars, ('Bartlett' (S101S102), 'Beurre Giffard' (S101S106), 'Cornice' (S104S105), 'Doshes' (S104S107), 'Koshia' (S104S108), 'Paskolmar' (S101S105), 'Felestini' (S101S107), 'Domkat' (S104S120), 'GhousF (S104S107), 'Kaftar Bache' (S104S120), 'Konjoni' (S104S108), 'Laleh' (S105S108), 'Natanzi' (S104S105), 'Sebri' (S101S104), 'Se Fasleh' (S101S105 ) and 'Louise Bonne' (S101S108)) both alleles are identified but in two cultivars, 'Pighambari' (S-105) and 'Shah Miveh Esfahan' (S-107)) only one allele is recognized. It is concluded that allele-specific PCR amplification can be considered as an efficient and rapid method to identify S-genotype of Iranian pear cultivars.