GENETIC-LINKAGE MAP OF PEACH [PRUNUS-PERSICA (L.) BATSCH] USING MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR MARKERS

A genetic linkage map of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batch] was constru cted in order to identify molecular markers linked to economically imp ortant agronomic traits that would be particularly useful for long-liv ed perennial species. An intraspecific F-2 population was generated fr om self-pollinating a single F-1 plant from a cross between a flat non -acid peach, 'Fejalou Jalousia(R)' and an acid round nectarine 'Fantas ia'. Mendelian segregations were observed for 270 markers including fo ur agronomic characters (peach/nectarine, flat/round fruit, acid/non-a cid fruit, and pollen sterility) and 1 isoenzyme, 50 RFLP, 92 RAPD, 8 inter-microsatellite amplification (IMA), and 115 amplified fragment l ength polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Two hundred and forty-nine markers were mapped to 11 linkage groups covering 712 centiMorgans (cM). The a verage density between pairs of markers is 4.5 cM. For the four agrono mic characters studied, molecular markers were identified. This map wi ll be used for the detection of QTL controlling fruit quality in peach and, particularly, the acid and sugar content.