Molecular characterization of five new S alleles associated with self-incompatibility in local Spanish almond cultivars

Almond is a highly heterozygous species with a high number of S-alleles controlling its gametophytic self-incompatibility system (GSI). In this work we have analysed Spanish local almond cultivars for S-RNase allele diversity. By cloning and sequencing five new S-RNase alleles were identified: S31 (804 bp) in 'Pou de Felanitx' and 'Totsol', S32 (855 bp) in 'Taiatona', S33 (1165 bp) in 'Pou d'Establiments' and 'Muel', S34 (1663 bp) in 'Pane-Barquets', and S35 (1658 bp) in 'Planeta de les Garrigues'. The high number of new alleles identified reveals the wide diversity of almond germplasm still existing and requiring characterisation, and points to the possibility of new findings by a wider study focusing on other provenances.