Spain: the almond improvement programs in the world are based only on 2 genetic lines and 3 varieties

Almond Kernel

Spain

Published Jan 19, 2021

Tridge summary

This is the conclusion reached by IRTA researchers together with other researchers from five countries, based on the analysis of pedigree data, verified by markers, of 220 varieties of almonds. "We have seen in the study that the genotypes of the 7 main almond improvement programs in the world follow two main improvement lines based only on 3 varieties", points out IRTA researcher and almond breeder, Ignasi Batlle.

Original content

Based on the genotypes used by the 7 main breeding programs in the United States, Australia, France, Israel and Spain, the study has revealed the loss of genetic variability and the increasing challenge it poses to breeding programs due to the repeated use of a reduced number of founder genotypes. The main conclusion of the study is that it is necessary to increase the current genetic variability in the almond breeding programs to ensure genetic gain and the continuous progress of their improvement. "In almond breeding, little was known about its genetic variability in current breeding populations, although several cases of depression due to inbreeding have been reported," says Batlle. To gain insight into genetic makeup in modern breeding programs around the world, marker-verified pedigree data from 220 almond varieties and breeding selections were analyzed. The coefficients of consanguinity (common ancestor), kinship and the genetic contribution of the founders were calculated ...

Source: Castilla