Development of Novel SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) Markers from the ‘Golden Delicious’ for Korean Apple Genome Project

Apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) is one of the most important fruit crops in Korea. A new apple genome project has been started since 2012 for a nine -year schedule (supported by Biogreen 21 program of Rural Development Administration, Korea). This project aims integrate genomic information to develop a practical platform and to increase the efficiency of apple breeding program in Korea.

As a starting point of this genome project, selection of new microsatellite was conducted to apply core collection management, identification of genetic relationship among Korean apples and reference map construction. The microsatellite or SSRs are known for being highly polymorphic, co-dominantly inherited, a large number of alleles per locus, suitable for automation, abundant and evenly distributed in the genome. The objectives of this study were to develop polymorphic genomic microsatellite from ' Golden Delicious’ genomic sequences generated by next generation sequencing technology. By using SSR detection program language, Perl, we developed 6,165 SSRs markers. These microsatellite markers and their allele information might be available for identification of the genotype among apple cultivars, mapping, MAS, QTL and breeding for important traits in Korean apple.