@Article{phyton.2026.074974,
AUTHOR = {Hui Zhang, Yingchun He, Min Hong, Yang Wang, Mingzhang Li, Qiguo Zhuang, Kui Du, Yue Xie},
TITLE = {Evaluation, Validation, and Application of Sex-Specific Molecular Marker in Kiwifruit (<i>Actinidia</i> spp.)},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {95},
YEAR = {2026},
NUMBER = {2},
PAGES = {--},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/v95n2/66472},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {The genus <i>Actinidia</i> is primarily functionally dioecious, and early sex identification plays a crucial role in improving breeding efficiency and reducing production costs. In this study, the accuracy of three sex-linked molecular markers (<i>SyGI</i> [<i>Shy Girl</i>], <i>FrBy</i> [<i>Friendly Boy</i>], and <i>SmY1</i>) in sex identification was evaluated in various <i>Actinidia</i> species. The selected marker products were subsequently cloned and sequenced in six wild <i>Actinidia</i> species. Ninety-six wild <i>A. chinensis chinensis</i> accessions and 74 <i>A. chinensis deliciosa</i> accessions, most of which were wild, with only one cultivated, were used for comprehensive primer validation. Thirty-three juvenile <i>A. chinensis chinensis</i> hybrid seedlings were used for practical application tests. The results showed that the marker <i>SyGI</i> accurately identified the sex of 20 samples from six <i>Actinidia</i> species and 96 <i>A. chinensis chinensis</i> accessions with 100% reliability. For <i>Actinidia chinensis deliciosa</i>, the identification accuracy reached 98.65%. Sequence analysis revealed that <i>SyGI</i> shared the highest similarity with the male-specific genomic region. Furthermore, <i>SyGI</i> achieved 100% accuracy in identifying the sex of 33 juvenile <i>A. chinensis chinensis</i> individuals. The findings confirm that the <i>SyGI</i> marker possesses high accuracy, strong specificity, and broad applicability, making it a valuable tool for kiwifruit breeding programs. The cloned sequences from wild <i>Actinidia</i> species also provide important references for future research on the mechanisms of sexual evolution and determination.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2026.074974}
}