Identification of S Genes and SFB4' in Cerasus avium L.

  Objective   Varieties of sweet cherry cultivars from Sichuan Province were analyzed for self-compatibility by the presence of mutant S gene.

  Method   Using the universal and specific primers of S genotype, DNA from the leaves of 39 Cerasus avium L. specimens collected in Sichuan were amplified by PCR. The amplified fragments containing SFB4 and/or SFB4' were sequenced for comparison and further analysis.

  Result   Six genes of S genotype were identified from the 39 sweet cherry specimens with 27 of them having S3 genes, 19 having S9, 12 having S1, 11 having S4, 7 having S6, and 3 having S2. In the 11 specimens containing S4 genes, the ORF sequences of SFBs were amplified. By comparing SFB4 and SFB4', 4 base deletions at 903 bp were observed on the mutant. Subsequently, with a specially designed primer for SFB4', the sequencing indicated the SFB in 7 of the specimens to be SFB4'.

  Conclusion   Six S genes were identified in the 39 C. avium specimens collected in Sichuan. The S4 from 7 of the specimens was the mutant gene, SFB4'.