Genetic diversity and taxonomic studies of date plum (Diospyros lotus L.) using morphological traits and SCoT markers

• The diversity and taxonomic of date plum were analyzed by morphological and SCoT.
• Significant variability was found for 21 traits of branch, fruit and seed.
• Using SCoT marker there was a high genetic diversity in 26 date plum persimmon.
• Date plum persimmon may be divided into five taxonomic types.

Date plum persimmon (Diospyros lotus L.) is an important fruit crop in China due to its better compatibility as a major root stock for Diospyros kaki Thunb. The objective of this study was to reveal the diversity and taxonomic status based on morphological and molecular markers for 26 date plum persimmon accessions from different ecogeographical areas. Significant variability was observed in the 26 date plum persimmon accessions using the analysis of 5 quantitative and 16 qualitative morphological characters of branches, fruits and seeds. Molecular diversity was analyzed using start codon targeted (SCoT) markers. A total of 118 bands were produced with 11 SCoT primers; genetic similarity was ranged from 0.42 to 0.83, which indicating higher genetic variation among accessions. Based on the cluster results of morphological and molecular data, the results showed that date plum persimmon may be divided into five taxonomic types which including male date plum persimmon, rounded seedless date plum persimmon, rounded seedy date plum persimmon, obround seedless date plum persimmon, and oblate seedy date plum persimmon.