Gender determination of Siirt pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) saplings by RAPD-SCAR technique

Pistacia genus is widely distributed on sloped, stony or rocky land and arid- semi arid regions of Northern Africa, Meddle East, Mediterranean of Southern Europe, West and Central Asia. The member of this genus is dioecious plant in the nature. Gender identification in Pistacia species is economically important for pistachio producers because its long juvenile period delay crop production and gains. Since there is not any easy method to identify gender at juvenile period of this plant, the methods of molecular markers are expected to enable method that helps in gender identification at juvenile stage. Fragments that were obtained from randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were cloned and improved firmly distinguishing sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. In current study, four primers (OPL11, BC156, BC360 and OPAK09) tested but only the OPL11 primer formed reproducible band (about 261 bp) in female pistachios. The distinguishing RAPD band of OPL11 primer was purified from gel then cloned and sequenced for female pistachios. The specific primers were synthesized for amplification of about 261 bp fragment in female pistachio plants. The designed SCAR markers were conducted to female male and saplings of pistachio plant but the specific bands with expected sizes were found only in female and some saplings of pistachio plants.