Development and application of a sex-linked marker for Herpetospermum pedunculosum based on whole-genome resequencing

Abstract

Sex-specific DNA markers are effective tools for sex identification and sex-controlled breeding of dioecious organisms. The seeds of the dioecious Herpetospermum pedunculosum are utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, and the development of sex-linked markers for seedlings is crucial for enhancing the number of female plants. In this study, we screened sex-specific markers based on whole-genome resequencing of 20 male and 24 female H. pedunculosum individuals, and validated a male-specific DNA fragment of 505 bp among 80 individuals from four populations using simple PCR. The findings provide a reliable male-specific marker for the sex identification of H. pedunculosum seedlings.