Evaluation on genetic characteristics of seedless pomelo varieties from small seeds by using microsatellite markers

Abstract

One of main purposes in citrus breeding is to create seedless fruits; therefore, triploids in citrus are taken into consideration by breeders since their fruits are seedless. Several breeding strategies based on conventional and innovative methods have been developed for the triploid production. In citrus, Occasional triploid (2n = 3x = 27) offspring have been found in small seeds of monoembryonic cultivars. In this report, small seeds were extracted from 5 commercial pomelo varieties: Da xanh, Long co co, Huyet, Tu quy and Do ND pomelos and cultured in MS medium for germination. Trees from small seeds were analyzed genetic characteristics by microsatellite (SSR) markers. Results showed that the trees from small seeds and the mother tree in the same variety were identical in genetic characteristics, and two SSR markers mCrCIR03G05 and mCrCIR01C06a could be used for identifying triploid trees in Da xanh and Long co co pomelo.