Analyses of clonal status in 'Somei-yoshino' and confirmation of genealogical record in other cultivars of Prunus x yedoensis by microsatellite markers

'Somei-yoshino' (Yoshino cherry, Prunus xyedoensis) is the most popular flowering cherry cultivar in Japan. In order to confirm the clonal status of this cultivar, which is one of the most important issues, genotypes of different individuals were investigated using 21 microsatellite markers. Of the 52 individuals examined, including 47 old trees planted from the late 19th to the early 20th century that had been collected from various locations in Japan, 50 showed an identical genotype. The other two were assumed to be the offspring of this cultivar. These results showed that 'Somei-yoshino' is a clone from a single tree. The genealogy of six other cultivars belonging to the same hybrid species was examined using the same method. The results were congruent with the documentation of their genealogy. 'Mishima-zakura' and 'Shouwa-zakura' were found to be the offspring of 'Somei-yoshino', while 'Amagi-yoshino', 'Izu-yoshino', 'Mikado-yoshino' and 'Perpendens' were not directly related to 'Somei-yoshino'.