Characterisation of vineyard peach biodiversity

Yugoslavia has a diverse population of vineyard peaches, which has been rarely used for genetic improvement. A programme for characterising the diversity of vineyard peaches began at Novi Sad in 1989 and some 457 vineyard peach accessions have been collected and evaluated for morphological and phenological traits. To assess the molecular diversity of the vineyard peaches collected in comparison with standard cultivars, we used isoenzymes and RFLPs. We analysed 79 vineyard peach accessions and 33 peach cultivars for 32 enzyme systems using PAGE. Good activity and separation were achieved for all systems including ones previously reported as poorly resolved. On the basis of polymorphism observed for 21 enzyme systems (ACP, AKP, AMY, ADH, CAD, DIA, EST, FRK, GAL, GLU, GOT, GDH, HEX, IDH, MDH, ME, MNR, PEP, PRX, PHO and SKD) 31 loci were scored in vineyard peach and cultivars. For 11 enzyme systems (ACO, AAP, ARA, ENP, FDH, GPI, G6PDH, G3PDH, LAP, PGM and PGD) no polymorphism was revealed. Thirty-six vineyard peaches and 16 cultivars that revealed high levels of heterozygosity were analysed by RFLPs. Almond, peach and cherry probes from the European Prunus Mapping Project were used in combination with the restriction endonucleases Dra I, Eco RI and Hind III. Polymorphism was revealed with 9 probes and 14 loci were proposed. Vineyard peach accessions were polymorphic for 14 loci, and cultivars for 11.