Genetic erosion, mainly caused by the replacement of local landraces with high yielding or exotic varieties is causing loss of agrobiodiversity. Landraces of horticultural species, grown by small producers, represent today an important value in the preservation of agrobiodiversity. Umbria, a region of central Italy, is characterized by agricultural systems linked to tradition and cultivation of local landraces. In this study, the genetic profile of some traditional Umbrian tomato landraces was characterized for the first time, and the landraces uniqueness was evaluated by comparison with commercial varieties. One-hundred and twenty-one plants provided by local farmers and seed companies, represented by local and commercial varieties were analyzed using 19 SSRs markers. A total of 60 alleles were found with moderate levels of diversity. The mean number of alleles per locus was 3.158 and the average polymorphism information content was 0.38. Unweighted UPGMA clustered the accessions into four groups. The gene pool of Umbrian landraces seems to be highly differentiated compared to commercial varieties, with landraces showing a genetic distinctiveness. Furthermore, an identifying fingerprinting code of each tomato landrace was generated and an innovative method for varietal identification based on the ‘QR code’ was proposed. The results obtained in this study will be useful for a better management, conservation and propagation of tomato genetic resources in Umbria region.

遗传侵蚀主要由高产或外来品种替代当地地方品种引起，正在造成农业生物多样性的丧失。小型生产者种植的园艺物种的地方品种，今天在保护农业生物多样性方面具有重要价值。翁布里亚（Umbria）是意大利中部一个地区，其特点是与传统和当地地方品种的种植相关的农业系统。在这项研究中，首次表征了一些传统的翁布里亚番茄地方品种的遗传特征，并通过与商业品种进行比较来评估地方品种的独特性。使用19个SSR标记分析了当地农民和种子公司提供的一百二十一株以当地和商业品种为代表的植物。总共发现了60个等位基因，具有中等水平的多样性。每个基因座的平均等位基因数为3.158，平均多态性信息含量为0.38。未加权的UPGMA将种质分为四类。与商业品种相比，翁布里亚地方品种的基因库似乎具有高度差异性，地方品种具有遗传上的独特性。此外，生成了每个番茄地方品种的识别指纹代码，并提出了一种基于“ QR代码”的新品种识别方法。这项研究获得的结果将有助于更好地管理，保护和传播翁布里亚地区番茄遗传资源。与商业品种相比，翁布里亚地方品种的基因库似乎高度分化，地方品种显示出遗传上的独特性。此外，生成了每个番茄地方品种的识别指纹代码，并提出了一种基于“ QR代码”的新品种识别方法。这项研究获得的结果将有助于更好地管理，保护和传播翁布里亚地区番茄遗传资源。与商业品种相比，翁布里亚地方品种的基因库似乎高度分化，地方品种显示出遗传上的独特性。此外，生成了每个番茄地方品种的识别指纹代码，并提出了一种基于“ QR代码”的新品种识别方法。这项研究获得的结果将有助于更好地管理，保护和传播翁布里亚地区番茄遗传资源。