title: Investigation and Analysis of Genetic Diversity of Diospyros Germplasms Using SCoT Molecular Markers in Guangxi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowledge about genetic diversity and relationships among germplasms could be an invaluable aid in diospyros improvement strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The molecular characterization and diversity assessment of diospyros were very important for conservation of diospyros germplasm resources, meanwhile for diospyros improvement.
authors: Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Administration Committee of Guangxi Baise National Agricultural Science and Technology Zone, Baise 533612, China.
authors: Libao
authors: L
authors: Deng
authors: National Field Genebank for Tropical Fruit, South Subtropical Crops Research Institutes, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Zhanjiang 524091, China.
authors: Qingzhi
authors: Q
authors: Liang
authors: Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Guangxi Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Laboratory, Nanning 530007, China.
authors: Xinhua
authors: X
authors: He
authors: Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
authors: Cong
authors: C
authors: Luo
authors: Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
authors: Hu
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Experiment Station of Guangxi Subtropical Crop Research Institute, Chongzuo 532415, China.
authors: Zhenshi
authors: Z
authors: Qin
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D029788:Diospyros / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers