Genetic diversity of almonds (Prunus dulcis) of Datça

Abstract

Anatolia’s agricultural biodiversity, which has evolved with the contributions of many different cultures over thousands of years, is today being rapidly eroded as a result of climate change, population growth, globalization and agricultural policies. On the other hand, in every part of Anatolia, there are fruit varieties that are adapted to local soil and climate conditions, resistant to local pests and diseases, and require no irrigation, artificial fertilizer or pesticides. Unfortunately, most of these fruit varieties are today threatened by urbanization, soaring land prices and marketing problems in addition to agricultural policies. These fruit varieties are important genetic resources essential for the food security in the face of climate change and with their diverse flavors and traditional uses they are a significant part of Turkey’s cultural heritage. Since 2007, as a part of the "FRUIT LANDRACES OF MUĞLA: CULTURAL HERITAGE, DATABASE AND CONSERVATION PROJECT”, 96 almond landraces (Prunus dulcis) has been recorded in Datça. Molecular characterization and the genetic diversity of these almonds is the subject of this thesis. Using microsatellite (SSR) markers, molecular data were gathered in the form of DNA fingerprints and phylogenetic relatedness of these varieties was constructed on a dendrogram. From this data 82 unique almond varieties were identified. DNA fingerprints could allow the registration of these unique varieties as Datça’s landraces. Moreover, this data can be used for the selection of proper varieties for agricultural hybridization studies for the development of new and better cultivars.