Identification Of Some Variety of Plum Varieties (Prunus Domestica) Using Srap Markers in Duhok Region- Kurdistan\ Iraq.

Plums (Prunus spp.) are economically significant fruit crops with a wide genetic diversity that influences fruit quality, disease resistance, and adaptability. Traditional classification methods based on morphology can be unreliable due to environmental influences. Molecular markers, particularly Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP), offer a more precise approach to assessing genetic variation. This study aims to evaluate the genetic diversity and relationships among selected plum varieties using SRAP markers. The findings will aid in breeding program development, germplasm conservation, and the identification of suitable parent lines for hybridization. Methods. SRAP markers were applied to analyze the genetic distance among different plum varieties. A dendrogram was generated to visualize clustering patterns based on genetic similarity, revealing the evolutionary relationships among the cultivars. The genetic analysis grouped the studied plum varieties into two major clusters: Closely related varieties (Cluster 1)–These varieties exhibited high genetic similarity, indicating a shared breeding background or common selection for specific traits such as fruit quality and disease resistance. Genetically distant varieties (Cluster 2) – These varieties showed significant genetic divergence, suggesting unique lineages or potential for hybridization to introduce novel traits. The results highlight a moderate to high level of genetic diversity among the studied plum cultivars. The identification of genetically distant varieties (e.g., F and B) suggests potential for crossbreeding to enhance desirable traits. Meanwhile, closely related varieties provide genetic stability for commercial breeding programs. The effectiveness of SRAP markers in genetic diversity analysis is confirmed, and future studies should integrate additional marker systems (e.g., SSRs, SNPs) and high-throughput sequencing technologies to refine genetic characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]