Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, cilt.72, sa.Suppl 1, ss.123-139, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Apples have become an indispensable part of many diets around the world and are one of the staple crops with rich genetic variation. This study evaluated the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of 22 apple genotypes native to the Central Anatolian region and 9 widely cultivated cultivars worldwide. The analysis was conducted using 23 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 187 alleles were detected, with the number of alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 16 and an average of 8. The highest allele count was observed at the BC226-SCAR locus. The effective number of alleles (Ne) varied from 1.17 (MD-EXP7SSR) to 9.11 (CH02C06), with an overall mean of 4.67, indicating a high level of genetic variation among the genotypes. Observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.16 to 1.00, averaging of 0.72, with the highest values (1.00) recorded at the CH01H10, EMPC116, and HI02D04 loci. Expected heterozygosity (He) averaged 0.72, with the highest values found at CH02C06, BPPCT032, and BC226-SCAR loci. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.14 (MD-EXP7SSR) to 0.88 (CH02C06, BC226-SCAR), reflecting the high discrimination power of the markers. Genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.14 to 0.88, showing substantial diversity among the studied genotypes and cultivars. The Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) clustering method and STRUCTURE analysis clearly divided the genotypes into four major genetic clusters, a pattern also supported by Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). This clustering provides useful guidance for selecting diverse parental lines in breeding programs and identifying unique genotypes for conservation strategies. The results revealed remarkable genetic diversity and relationships among apple genotypes in the Central Anatolia region, confirming the richness of this region in terms of apple genetic resources and its value for breeding and conservation efforts.