Genetic variation and population structure of "Zangli" pear landraces in Tibet revealed by SSR markers

Pear (Pyrus L.) is one of the most important fruits in temperate regions. Even in the mountainous border region of Tibet, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces (China), a variety of highly adapted pear landraces were discovered in Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and were named "Zangli pears." Here, we analyzed genetic diversity of 29 genotypes of Zangli distributed in Tibetan Region, together with 30 genotypes of sand pear (P. pyrifolia) in border regions, and 8 genotypes of P. ussuriensis as out groups, using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. Twenty-eight SSR markers displayed high polymorphism with a total of 202 alleles. Cluster analysis revealed a close genetic relationship between Zangli and sand pears, while population structure analysis revealed that gene flow between the western and eastern side of the Jin-sha River was restricted by geographic isolation. Diversity statistics for five geographic groups implied a migration event from Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces to the border region of western Sichuan, eastern Tibet, and northwestern Yunnan Provinces. Six specific genetic alleles in Zangli pear landraces might be related to their adaption to severe environmental conditions.