Co-Authors:
Yakubov, B., Albert Katz Dept. Dryland B., Desert Plant Biotech. Laboratory, Jacob Blaustein Inst. Desert R., Israel
Barazani, O., Albert Katz Dept. Dryland B., Desert Plant Biotech. Laboratory, Jacob Blaustein Inst. Desert R., Israel
Golan-Goldhirsh, A., Albert Katz Dept. Dryland B., Desert Plant Biotech. Laboratory, Jacob Blaustein Inst. Desert R., Israel
Abstract:
A combined method of sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) primers and Touchdown-PCR was used for the development of a female DNA marker in Pistacia vera L. The random decamer primer OPO-08 amplified a 905-bp fragment in all female trees, but also in several males. SCAR primers designed on the basis of the RAPD female molecular marker amplified a 905-bp female and a 909-bp male fragment. Sequencing these fragments revealed high homology, with several point mutations, four deletions in female and one in the male sequences. A second internal set of SCAR primers designed on the basis of a polymorphic locus, in combination with Touchdown-PCR technique, amplified a specific female 297-bp product. The diagnostic reliability of the new female specific marker was verified on 54 different genotypes. The method reported here offers a simple and reproducible way for early gender determination in P. vera. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.