Effectiveness of the RO2 marker for the identification of non-astringency trait in Chinese PCNA persimmon and its possible segregation ratio in hybrid F1 population

An important breeding target for persimmon is to achieve elite cultivars of the pollination constant non-astringent (PCNA) type. The RO2 SCAR marker has been established to identify the trait of Chinese PCNA type by Ikegami et al. [J. Jpn. Soc. Hort. Sci. 80 (2011) 150–155]. Here, the informativeness of RO2 was tested in all Chinese PCNA types and two F1 populations bred from crosses between a non-PCNA maternal parent and either a Chinese PCNA type or an androecious male parent. The RO2 marker was detected in ten Chinese PCNA types and six androecious genotypes, but not in any of the non-PNCA and Japanese PCNA types. The segregation behavior of RO2 in both F1 populations was consistent with a 1:1 ratio as previously reported by Ikegami et al. The presence of the RO2 marker among androecious material indicates that they also have potential as donor of non-astringency trait of Chinese PCNA type.

► RO2 markers that are linked to natural loss of astringency in Chinese PCNA persimmon were detected not only in ‘Luotian-tianshi’ but also in other C-PCNA type and androecious persimmon of Chinese origin. ► The marker exhibited a segregation ratio of 1:1 in two F1 populations, which indicates that the trait dominance of non-astringency also is also detected in the androecious accession. ► The presence of the RO2 marker among androecious persimmon indicates that these genotypes also have potential as donor of non-astringency trait of C-PCNA.