RAPD-SCAR Markers Linked to Medium-Leaf Zoysiagrass Ecotypes

Two medium-leaf ecotypes (CY6069, CY6097) belonging to one species (Zoysia japonica) of Korean lawngrasses were selected in sod production fields in Jang Seong, Korea. They were reported to have distinct morphological and growth rate characteristics different from the preferred medium-leaf type zoysiagrass in Korea. This study was conducted to define further the genotypic difference at the molecular level and to develop DNA marker based on the specific DNA fragment. Polymorphic DNA fragments were first explored by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers, which were then converted into PCR-based sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. The CY6069-specific primer set amplified about 550 bp successfully, while the CY6097 marker produced the expected 690 bp band, by which those markers were nominated by CY6069_550 and CY6069_690 SCARs, respectively. Together with the reported morphological and other phenotypic features, the SCAR markers confirmed in this study will be useful to identify those medium-leaf zoysiagrass genotypes when they are cultivated with other vegetatively propagated warm-season turfgrasses in sod farms.