Identification of molecular markers linked to the trait of natural astringency loss of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki) fruit

Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb,) cultivars are classified into fo ur types depending upon the nature of astringency loss of the fruit. Among them, the pollination-constant and nonastringent (PCNA) type is the most de sirable for fresh fruit consumption due to the trait of stable loss of astr ingency on the tree with fruit development. Lack of tannin accumulation is the main cause of natural astringency loss in PCNA-type fruit, and is quali tatively inherited. The PCNA trait is recessive to the non-PCNA trait. In t his study, we investigated amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) ma rkers for the trait of natural astringency loss of PCNA-type fruit using bu lked segregant analysis (BSA) For efficient selection of PCNA type plants i n a breeding population, ri total of 128 primer combinations were tested an d one AFLP marker was found to be linked to the dominant allele controlling the trait for astringency. This marker, EACC/MCTA-400, was absent in all o f the PCNA-type plants tested, whereas it was present in about half of the non-PCNA-type plants tested, However, RFLP analysis using this marker enabl ed the detection of the other dominant allele, and all PCNA-type plants cou ld be distinguished from the non-PCNA-type plants. Application of this mark er system will be useful for the selection of PCNA-type plants in persimmon breeding.