Knowledge about the genetic potential of wild Prunus species is important for recognizing gene pools in germplasm and developing effective strategies for germplasm conservation and breeding. In this study, cultivated sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and relative wild Cereus subgenus genotypes belonging to P. microcarpa Boiss and P. incana (Pall.) Batsch. species were assayed in controlled drought conditions performing an integrated morphological, physiological, genomic and transcriptomic analysis of the stress response. These analyses were performed under well-watered and water-deficient conditions analysing morphology of leaves, gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll content differently affected by drought, especially under long-term water deficiency. From a genomic point of view, these genotypes were characterized using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Finally, in the analysis of the transcriptional responses, drought tolerance candidate genes were analysed by quantitative PCR (qPCR). From a morphological point of view, P. microcarpa showed less leaf area, height and diameter in comparison to P. incana and mainly P. avium. The highest rate of photosynthesis in genotypes differently was observed in the control treatment and the lowest rate viewed during stress. The analysed genes showed different responses to drought in the genotypes, and more detailed analysis techniques to explain the molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance are needed in these genotypes. Our results provide a significant contribution to the understanding of how P. incana and P. microcarpa respond to drought stress, which may help to explain molecular and physiological mechanisms associated with the response to the drought of cherries. Additionally, these results show that wild cherries can be considered as a genetic source of drought resistance in breeding programs.

了解野生李属物种的遗传潜力对于识别种质基因库和制定有效的种质资源保护和育种策略非常重要。在这项研究中，栽培甜樱桃（Prunus avium L.）和属于P. microcarpa Boiss 和P. incana的近缘野生Cereus亚属基因型（Pall。） Batsch。在受控干旱条件下对物种进行了分析，对应激反应进行了综合的形态学、生理学、基因组学和转录组学分析。这些分析是在水分充足和缺水的条件下进行的，分析了受干旱影响的叶片形态、气体交换参数和叶绿素含量，尤其是在长期缺水的情况下。从基因组的角度来看，这些基因型使用简单序列重复 (SSR) 标记进行表征。最后，在转录反应分析中，通过定量 PCR (qPCR) 分析了耐旱候选基因。从形态学的角度来看，与P. incana相比，P. microcarpa 的叶面积、高度和直径较小主要是P. avium。在对照处理中观察到不同基因型的最高光合作用速率，而在胁迫期间观察到最低速率。分析的基因在基因型中表现出对干旱的不同反应，需要更详细的分析技术来解释这些基因型的耐旱性分子机制。我们的研究结果为理解P. incana和P. microcarpa如何响应干旱胁迫做出了重大贡献，这可能有助于解释与樱桃干旱响应相关的分子和生理机制。此外，这些结果表明，野生樱桃可被视为育种计划中抗旱性的遗传来源。