Abstract
BackgroundKnowledge about genetic diversity and relationships among germplasms could be an invaluable aid in diospyros improvement strategies.MethodsThis study was designed to analyze the genetic diversity and relationship of local and natural varieties in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China using start codon targeted polymorphism (SCoT) markers. The accessions of 95 diospyros germplasms belonging to four species Diospyros kaki Thunb, D. oleifera Cheng, D. kaki var. silverstris Mak, and D. lotus Linn were collected from different eco-climatic zones in Guangxi and were analyzed using SCoT markers.ResultsResults indicated that the accessions of 95 diospyros germplasms could be distinguished using SCoT markers, and were divided into three groups at similarity coefficient of 0.608; these germplasms that belong to the same species were clustered together; of these, the degree of genetic diversity of the natural D. kaki var. silverstris Mak population was richest among the four species; the geographical distance showed that the 12 natural populations of D. kaki var. silverstris Mak were divided into two groups at similarity coefficient of 0.19. Meanwhile, in order to further verify the stable and useful of SCoT markers in diospyros germplasms, SSR markers were also used in current research to analyze the genetic diversity and relationship in the same diospyros germplasms. Once again, majority of germplasms that belong to the same species were clustered together. Thus SCoT markers were stable and especially useful for analysis of the genetic diversity and relationship in diospyros germplasms.DiscussionThe molecular characterization and diversity assessment of diospyros were very important for conservation of diospyros germplasm resources, meanwhile for diospyros improvement.
Highlights
The genus diospyros (Ebenaceae) consists of approximately 400 to 500 highly heterozygous species, most of which are distributed in the subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and central South America [1,2]
Results indicated that the accessions of 95 diospyros germplasms could be distinguished using start codon targeted polymorphism (SCoT) markers, and were divided into three groups at similarity coefficient of 0.608; these germplasms that belong to the same species were clustered together; of these, the degree of genetic diversity of the natural D. kaki var. silverstris Mak population was richest among the four species; the geographical distance showed that the 12 natural populations of D. kaki var. silverstris Mak were divided into two groups at similarity coefficient of 0.19
In order to further verify the stable and useful of SCoT markers in diospyros germplasms, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used in current research to analyze the genetic diversity and relationship in the same diospyros germplasms
Summary
The genus diospyros (Ebenaceae) consists of approximately 400 to 500 highly heterozygous species, most of which are distributed in the subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and central South America [1,2]. Nine diospyros species are cultivated in China as fruit trees or rootstock, among these, D. kaki Thunb is the most economically valuable and widely cultivated species [5,6]. D. kaki Thunb in China accounting for 89.79% and 73.84% of total planting area and yield worldwide, respectively [7]. Guangxi is one of the most important production areas for diospyros, and diospyros germplasm resources are abundant and widely distributed because of the unique climate and diverse ecology [8]. Previous reports had mainly focused on planting cultivars, without local and natural varieties. The assignment of cultivar identity is a major problem due to insufficient information, due to presence of synonyms and homonyms among local and natural varieties, which affect significantly the exploration, utilization, and protection of diospyros germplasm resources in Guangxi. Knowledge about genetic diversity and relationships among germplasms could be an invaluable aid in diospyros improvement strategies
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