ARS | Publication request: Population structure and conservation of wild Pyrus communis

Submitted to: Hortscience Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 25, 2011
Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Repository URL: http://ashs.confex.com/ashs/2011/webprogram/Paper7477.html
Citation: Volk, G.M., Richards, C.M., Cruz, V.V., Bassil, N.V., Postman, J.D. 2011. Population structure and conservation of wild Pyrus communis [meeting abstract]. In: Proceedings of American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, September 25-28, 2011, Waikoloa, Hawaii. Available: http://ashs.confex com/ashs/2011/ webprogram/Paper7477.html.

Technical Abstract: The wild relatives of the edible European pears (Pyrus communis L.) are native to Central Asia and Eastern Europe. We have sampled 260 individuals of wild-collected Pyrus communis ssp. caucasica and Pyrus communis ssp. pyraster from their native habitats and used 13 microsatellite markers to determine the genetic relationships among the individuals. Clustering, ordination, and population statistics provide support to the subspecies designations and elucidate further structure within and among families. Allelic variation among markers was also used to identify individuals to include in core subsets that represent the broader marker diversity of the wild populations. These subsets can be specifically targeted for further characterization and evaluation trials and may provide unique alleles of interest to the breeding community.