Genetic relationships among jujube cultivars suitable for cultivation in South China

In order to understand the genetic relationships among jujube cultivars suitable for cultivation in the South of China, 26 jujube cultivars and its wild species, sour jujube, were analyzed using fluorescent-labeled AFLP markers. 8 AFLP primer combinations were selected for the analysis based on the number and quality of polymorphic fragments. A total of 886 AFLP markers were identified, of which 817 (92.2%) were polymorphic. Using UPGMA clustering method, 26 cultivars were placed into 2 clusters. Most of fresh cultivars introduced from North China showed close genetic relationship among each others. The others had close genetic relationship with South China cultivars. Sucuizao and Kongfusucuizao were very close genetically. Jidanzao coming from Henan and Hunan had farther genetic distance and they were different cultivars.