Exploring Genome-Wide Diversity in the National Peach (Prunus persica) Germplasm Collection at CITA (Zaragoza, Spain)

Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) is one of the most produced and studied stone fruits. Many genetic and genomic resources are available for this species, including a high-quality genome. More recently, a new high-density Illumina peach Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) chip (9+9K) has been developed by an international consortium as an add-on to the previous 9K array. In the current study, this new array was used to study the genetic diversity and population structure of the National Peach Germplasm Collection of the Agrifood Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA), located in Zaragoza (northern Spain). To accomplish this, 90 peach accessions were genotyped using the new peach SNP chip (9+9K). A total of 9796 SNPs were finally selected for genetic analyses. Through Identity-By-Descent (IBD) estimate analysis, 15 different groups with genetically identical individuals were identified. The genetic diversity and population structure elucidated a possible exchange of germplasm material among regions, mainly in the northern regions of Spain. This study will allow for more efficient management of the National Peach Germplasm Collection by classifying valuable individuals for genetic diversity preservation and will benefit forthcoming Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) of commercially important fruit traits in peach.

Automated summary

This study utilized a new peach SNP chip to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of the National Peach Germplasm Collection in northern Spain, identifying potential germplasm exchange among regions. The findings will aid in the efficient management of the collection and benefit future Genome-Wide Association Studies of important fruit traits in peach.