The Application of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers for Discrimination of Sweet Persimmon Cultivars

The recent development of next-generation sequencing technology has enabled increased genomic analysis, but very few single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers applicable to sweet persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) cultivars have been identified. In this study, SNP primers developed from five pollination-constant astringent (PCA) persimmons native to Korea were applied to discriminate between cultivars and verify their usability. The polymerase chain reactions of 19 SNP primers developed by Jung et al. were checked, with 11 primers finally selected. The other eight were very difficult to analyze in the agarose gel electrophoresis and QIAxcel Advanced System used in this experiment and were therefore excluded. The 11 SNP primers were applied through first and second verification to 76 cultivars and collection lines including 20 pollination-variant non-astringent (PVNA), 30 pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA), 20 PCA, and six pollination-variant astringent (PVA). Of these, 38 were indistinguishable (eight PVNA, 18 PCNA, nine PCA, and three PVA). However, the results of applying the 11 SNP primers to new sweet persimmon cultivars, namely Gamnuri, Dannuri, Hongchoo, Jamisi, and Migamjosaeng, showed that they have the potential to be used as a unique marker for simultaneously determining between them.