The Spanish Program of Plant Genetic Resources integrates, among others, the collections
located at Public University of Navarre, Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo,
Cabildos (Tenerife, La Palma and Gran Canaria), University of Lleida, Estación Experimental de
Aula Dei-CSIC and CITA of Aragon. Those collections include mainly local cultivars from their
respective regions, covering most of the Spanish apple-growing areas. Though some previous
studies about the genetic variability of apple genetics resources from Spain were already
performed, a complete analysis is needed in order to evaluate the complete diversity of Malus
spp. in Spain. For doing that, the Spanish Government funded the project ¿Harmonization of
the methodology of characterization, assessment of genetic diversity and definition of the core
collection of the apple germplasm conserved in Spanish genebanks¿. In total, we have
evaluated 1206 accessions using standardized methodologies, with SSR markers and
morphological descriptors. SSR fingerprinting was performed with 13 SSR markers. SSR profiles
were obtained independently and allele sizes were compared using a common set of cultivars
selected as references. Results showed 601 genotypes for 1206 accessions. Most of the
genotypes (438) were identified only in one accession. The other 163 genotypes were repeated
in two to 81 accessions (involving 767 accessions in total). The harmonization of morphological
descriptors will allow us to determine if the accessions with the same genotype are synonymies
or closely related individuals. Results of this study highlight the interest of coordinated actions
in order to optimize the management of germplasm collections and to evaluate the complete
genetic diversity of Malus spp. in Spain.Peer Reviewe