Phenotypic and molecular characterization of new interspecific Japanese plum × apricot hybrids (plumcots)

•Transferring desirable traits between Prunus species•S-allele determination in plumcots hybrids.•Fruit pubescence is an unequivocal characteristic for verifying the “real” plumcots.•PPV tolerance could be linked to the presence of resistance alleles coming from apricot.