Complete sequences of the S-genes, Sd- and Sh-RNase cDNA in apple

The S-locus genes in the pistil (S-RNases) were cloned from the apple (Malu s xdomestica Borkh.) cultivar Akane (S-genotype SdSh from pollination analy sis). The Sd- and Sh-RNase corresponded to S7- and S24-RNase, which have be en cloned from 'Idared' and 'Braeburn', respectively. Sh-RNase was very sim ilar to Sf- and Sg-RNases at the deduced amino acid-sequence levels (93%). We developed an S-allele specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restricti on fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis method for distinguishing t he Sh from Sf and Sg, and the Sh-alleles of 'Akane', 'Touhoku 2'. 'Vista Be lla', and 'Worcester Pearmain' were identified. We also identified the S-al lele genotypes of 16 apple cultivars.