Determination of loci related with some fruit quality traits in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) using the assocation mapping method

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is one of the hard-shelled fruit species with many species belonging to the Anacardia family. It has positive effects on human health due to its nutritional content rich in protein, fat, fatty acids, fibre, vitamins and minerals. The most important problems encountered during the breeding of pistachio are its periodicity, youth sterility and dioecious character. These problems can be overcome with molecular breeding studies. For this reason, marker-assisted selection is of great importance. Within the scope of this study, 149 female varieties and genotypes harvested in 2018 and 136 female varieties and genotypes harvested in 2020 were analyzed for % oil content, fatty acid contents (total saturated fatty acid contents including myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid) and total monounsaturated fatty acid content (oleic acid, total monounsaturated fatty acid content, linoleic acid, alpha linoleic acid, total polyunsaturated fatty acid content), protein content and tocopherol (alpha tocopherol and gamma tocopherol) content were determined. Loci associated with fatty acid contents, total polyunsaturated fatty acid contents (including linoleic acid, alpha linoleic acid), protein contents and tocopherol (alpha tocopherol and gamma tocopherol) contents were determined. The relationship between a total of 14 phenotypic data and genotypic data was determined with the MLM (mixed linear model) approach using the GAPIT function of the R program. To determine the loci associated with the studied biochemical properties, the Bonferroni test was applied with p= 0.01. As a result of the analyses, loci associated with the p=10-4 level were selected. As a result of related mapping, 30,441 related markers were detected in 2018, 11,163 related markers were detected in 2020, and 65 common markers were identified in 2018 and 2020, associated with 9 phenotypic features. After validation of the obtained SNP loci, they can be used in pistachio breeding programs for biochemical properties.