Evaluation of genetic diversity by morphological, biochemical and molecular markers in sour cherry genotypes

Turkey's ecological and geographical diversity allows the cultivation of most plant species that have economic importance throughout the country. One of these species, sour cherry, is among the stone fruits that are very important for human health. This study aimed to determine genetic diversity of 21 sour cherry genotypes grown from seed in Kelkit Valley and standard Kutahya cultivars.

Morphological, biochemical, and molecular marker techniques [ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeat)] was used to determine genetic diversity. G11 in terms of fruit characteristics, particularly weight with 4.81 g, and G20 in terms of leaf width produced better results than the other genotypes with 40.10 mm. Molecular marker analysis, a total of 70 bands were obtained from 12 ISSR primers and 49 of them were polymorphic. The mean polymorphism rate in the study was 70%, and the DICE's similarity coefficient of genotypes differed between 0.81 and 0.95. Polymorphism percentages of the ISSR primers varied from 20 to 100%. In biochemical analyzes, G17 with 140.18 mg QE/100 g in total flavonoids content, G19 with 208.63 mg GAE/100 g in total phenolics content, G19 with 8.33 mg cyn-3-gluc/100 g in total anthocyanin content compared to other genotypes prominent genotypes.

The use of the obtained results in breeding studies to be carried out on this species, as well as the detection and protection of gene sources, may be beneficial for researchers.