Taxonomic status of Deyangshi based on chromosome number and SRAP markers

- From aspect of morphological traits, Deyangshi is distinct with other known resources in Diospyros L.
- Based on chromosome numbers and SRAP makers, Deyangshi is inferred as a new species in Diospyros L.
- Deyangshi is a promising material for breeding and landscape tree.

“Deyangshi”, a special Diospyros resource distributed in Deyang city, Sichuan Province (China), has been introduced into the National Field Genbank for persimmon of China. Its morphological characters are remarkably different from those of other cultivars or species. In our study, particular morphological traits, chromosome numbers and molecular markers were used to distinguish Deyangshi from other Diospyros species and identify its taxonomic status in Diospyros L. In aspects of morphology, the main feature of Deyangshi is its short juvenility and that it has masses of flowers and an attractive flower color; it can also be introduced as rootstock to shorten breeding time or as an ornamental tree. Polyploidy is very frequent in this genus. Regarding its ploidy level, Deyangshi is tetraploid, and it differs from Diospyros rhombifolia, which is tetraploid but with thorn-shaped shoots, Diospyros kaki and other related species. Clustering results from molecular markers (SRAP) also suggested that “Deyangshi” and the other Diospyros species have different genetic positions. Therefore, we propose that “Deyangshi” does not belong to any existing species that we know and that it might be an independent new species of Diospyros L. (Ebenaceae).