Comparison of Genome Sizes of Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) and Caucasian Persimmon (Diospyros lotus L.) Seedling Populations by Using Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is an improved technique for following cell cycle, determination of ploidy levels, calculation of genome sizes and early selection of candidates in plant breeding studies. Persimmon is generally propagated by using Diospyros lotus seedlings in Turkey. Moreover some persimmon varieties can be used for propagation as rootstock seed sources. In this study, fresh leaf tissues of Diospyros kaki and Diospyros lotus seedlings were used for obtaining of cell nuclei then stained by propidium iodide and were used for estimation of floresence intensities. According to the obtained results caucasian persimmon seedlings were had smaller genome sizes compare to the persimmon genomes and had less variation than persimmons. The relative ploidy level of caucasian persimmon seedlings were diploid where as hexploids in persimmon seedlings. By this experiment it was emphasized that new genotypes which have uniform rootstock charateristics for PCNA (Pollination Constant Non Astringent) and PVNA (Pollination Variant Non Astringent) persimmon varieties are needed for better performance in persimmon growing.

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