Relationships between physico-chemical and functional parameters and genetic analysis with ISSR markers in Spanish jujubes (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) cultivars

Abstract

In this work we have used ISSR molecular markers in Spanish jujube cultivars, for the first time, for study the phylogenetic relationships among cultivars and the genetic diversity assessment. The results of this study showed that the physico-chemical and bioactive compounds were different in the cultivars of Spanish jujubes studied. The PCA grouped the four type of cultivars into 3 groups: (i) the first group formed exclusively by the cultivar 'Da', (ii) the second group formed by the largest and round cultivars, 'Gam' and 'Gab', and (iii) and the third group formed by the medium 'Pe' and 'Me' cultivars. The genetic analysis with ISSR markers showed that was able to differentiate the 5 cultivars studied, so they are useful for genetic studies of Ziziphus jujuba specie. The similarity between the genetic dendrogram and the PCA, made with the physical-chemical and functional traits, had been very high, since in both cases the grouping between 'Gam' and 'Gab' cultivars was obtained and 'Da' cultivar was the furthest from the rest.