Primers amplifying a range of Prunus S‐alleles

Abstract Although various consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers have been reported for identifying Prunus S ‐alleles, they have been developed from and optimized on a limited set of alleles, which may limit their applicability to a broader allele range. To develop a primer set for use across the genus, degenerate consensus primers were designed from conserved regions of 27 S‐RNase sequences available from five Prunus species. The primers were tested in 15 previously genotyped cultivars of cherry, almond and apricot, representing alleles S 1 to S 6 in each crop and also S c in apricot. Comparisons were made with previously published primers tested in the same 15 cultivars under reported reaction conditions. The new primers generated an amplification product for each of the 19 S ‐alleles whereas those previously available amplified no more than 14. The primers will be useful for genotyping and genetic studies in cultivars and wild populations.