Genetic diversity of kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.), including Korean native A. arguta, using single nucleotide polymorphisms derived from genotyping-by-sequencing

Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was used to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of kiwifruits (Actinidia spp.). Using single nucleotide polymorphisms detected by GBS, phylogenetic tree and population structure were constructed for 89 kiwifruit accessions including Korean native A. arguta. The kiwifruit accessions were clearly divided into two groups in the phylogenetic tree. These groups were characterized by the presence or absence of hairs on pericarp. In the population structure analysis, the peak of delta K was detected at K = 5, suggesting that the 89 kiwifruit accessions were divided into five clusters. Each cluster represented A. chinensis, A. deliciosa, A. eriantha with wild accessions, female A. arguta, and male A. arguta. The result of the population structure supported the genetic background of each accession. We also performed genetic diversity analysis of A. arguta accessions. Consequently, A. arguta accessions were characterized by sex and 13 A. arguta accessions, occupying 33.3% of the total collection, were selected as a core set for use as germplasm to develop disease and cold stress resistant cultivars in future kiwifruit breeding programs. These results suggest that GBS approach is suitable for genetic diversity analysis of kiwifruits. Moreover, our results could be applied in kiwifruit breeding program to develop disease and cold stress resistant cultivars using Korean native A. arguta. Particularly, the developed Korean native A. arguta core set will be used as breeding materials for crop improvement strategies.