Genetic diversity of 18 processing apple varieties and two fresh varieties were evaluated using 12 simple sequence repeats (SSR) primer pairs previously identified in Malus domestica Borkh. A total of 87 alleles in 10 loci were detected using 10 polymorphic SSR markers selected within the range of 5-14 alleles per locus. All the 20 varieties could be distinguished using two primer pairs and they were divided into four groups using cluster analysis. The genetic similarity (GS) of groups analyzed using cluster analysis varied from 0.14 to 0.83. High acid variety Avrolles separated from other varieties with GS less than 0.42. The second group contained Longfeng and Dolgo from Northeast of China, the inherited genes of Chinese crab apple. The five cider varieties with high tannin contents, namely, Dabinette, Frequin rouge, Kermerrien, M.Menard, and D.Coetligne were clustered into the third group. The fourth group was mainly composed of 12 juice and fresh varieties. Principal coordinate analysis (PCO) also divided all the varieties into four groups. Juice and fresh apple varieties, Longfeng and Dolgo were clustered together, respectively, using both the analyses. Both the analyses showed there was much difference between cider and juice varieties, cider and fresh varieties, as well as Chinese crab apple and western European crab apple, whereas juice varieties and fresh varieties had a similar genetic background. The genetic diversity and differentiation could be sufficiently reflected by combining the two analytical methods.
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