Analysis of clonal variations in cultivated quince (Cydonia oblonga 'Kalecik') based on fruit characteristics and SSR markers

Abstract

This study assessed uniformity within a quince cultivar (Cydonia oblonga 'Kalecik'). The fruit traits of six different clones within 'Kalecik' quince plantations were evaluated over a 2-year period. Additionally, clones were genetically analysed at seven SSR (microsatellite) loci (CH01f02, CH01h01, CH01h10, CH01d08, CH02b12, KA16, and KA14). According to important fruit characteristics, clone 6 was selected as the best in both years. This clone had a lower fruit skin colour hue value (92.7-88.5 degrees), higher soluble solid content (15.6-16.5%), better flavour and taste, lower pubescence, and lower total pectin content (5.4-4.8 x 10(-3) mg galacturonic acid g(-1)), than had other clones. SSR analyses revealed that clone 4 was genetically distant from other clones (c. 50%). In the current study, SSR analyses suggest sufficient clonal variations within 'Kalecik' quince.