Identification of self-(in)compatibility<i>S-</i>alleles and new cross-incompatibility groups in Tunisian apricot (<i>Prunus armeniaca</i>L.) cultivars

SummaryLocal Tunisian apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars are characterised by having abundant flowering and floral self-incompatibility. In this study, PCR amplification provided definitive data on the S-genotypes of eight local and four new Tunisian apricot cultivars. These results were confirmed by field evaluations. Eight local cultivars ('Oud Rhayem', 'Oud Hmida', 'Bouthani Ben Friha', 'Bedri Ahmar', 'Oueld El Oud', 'Hamidi', 'Bouk Ahmed', and 'Adedi Ahmar') were found to be self-incompatible and three of four INRAT cultivars ('Sayeb', 'Asli', and 'Raki') were self-compatible, as described previously. The INRAT cultivar 'Ouardi' was self-incompatible, although it was previously described as a self-compatible cultivar.We also propose three new cross-incompatibility (CIG) groups: CIG XV (S7S8), CIG XVI (S7S11), and CIG XVII (S8S12) which include Tunisian and other cultivars.