Seven enzyme systems were examined in 69 apricot [Prunus armeniaca L. and P. mandshurica (Maxim.) Koehne] clones. Three enzymes (6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucose isomerase, and phosphoglucomutase) were polymorphic at five loci. Only seven clones were characterized uniquely by their isozyme phenotypes and 56% fell into two of the 15 phenotypic groups found. Isozyme variability in apricot was greater than in peach, but less than that reported in plum or almond.

Twenty-nine Japanese-type plum clones were assayed for isozymic variability for eight enzyme systems. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), leucine amino-peptidase (LAP), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI), phosphoglucomutase (PGM), and peroxidase (PX) showed variability among the plums surveyed. 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) and triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) were not variable. Isozymic characterization uniquely identified 38% of the clones. The remainder separated into groups of two to three clones that were distinguishable using vegetative morphological characteristics. Reported parentage of five out of nine plums examined was not consistent with their isozymic genotypes.

A series of diploid plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. and hybrids), apricot (P. armeniaca L.), and plum × apricot (plumcot) clones were surveyed for six enzyme systems to identify a biochemical marker system for plumcots. Peroxidase (EC 1.11,1.7) was the best marker for identifying plum × apricot hybrids. The other systems contained plum or apricot specific alleles useful in verifying hybrid parentage of first or later generation derivatives.