Construction of a genetic map for apricot with molecular markers and identification of markers associated with plum pox virus resistance

Plum pox virus (PPV) causes serious damage in apricots and breeding and growing of PPV-resistant apricot cultivars are the only way of its efficient control. An integrated genetic linkage map for apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) was obtained using a BC 1 progeny 'LE-3246' x 'Vestar'. A total of 316 molecular markers (290 AFLPs, 26 SSRs) and the resistance to PPV were assigned to 8 linkage groups covering 574 cM of the apricot genome. The average distance between adjacent loci is 2.5 cM. A PPVres1 locus conditioning resistance to PPV was mapped in linkage group 1. Several AFLPs and an SSR tightly linked to PPVres1 locus were identified. The construction of a genetic map for apricot and identification of molecular markers linked to PPV resistance will facilitate the breeder to obtain resistant apricot cultivars.