Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (6): 227-236.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0998

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Xenia Effects in Late-maturing Citrus and Identification Using SCoT Molecular Markers

LIU Jia-huan1(), CAO De-fa1, YU Wen-yao1, DENG Hong-hong2, TAN Lun-dong3, GUO Hai4, HUANG Guang-hui4, WANG Jun1, WANG Xun1(), WANG Zhi-hui1()   

  1. 1.College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130
    2.College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002
    3.Sichuan Jintian Fuze Agriculture Co. , Ltd. , Suining 629200
    4.Sichuan Dancheng Modern Fruit Industry Co. , Ltd. , Meishan 620200
  • Received:2025-09-22 Online:2026-06-26 Published:2026-07-11
  • Contact: WANG Xun, WANG Zhi-hui E-mail:liujiahuan@stu.sicau.edu.cn;wx0104@sicau.edu.cn;wangzhihui318@126.com

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to investigate the xenia effects on fruit traits in late-maturing citrus and to efficiently identify true hybrids using SCoT molecular markers, thereby providing a theoretical basis and high-quality germplasm resources for breeding new late-maturing citrus varieties with desirable maturity and improved fruit quality. Method Twelve hybrid combinations were constructed using ‘Kiyomi tangor’, ‘Ehime Kashi 38’, and ‘Orah’ as female parents crossed with nine male parents. Fruit set rate, seedling rate, and fruit traits including single fruit weight, longitudinal and transverse diameters, fruit shape index, and soluble solids content (TSS) were measured to evaluate xenia effects. SCoT molecular markers were employed for hybrid authenticity identification and genetic diversity analysis of the progeny. Result The total fruit set rates for ‘Kiyomi tangor’, ‘Ehime Kashi 38’, and ‘Orah’ as female parents were 19.78%, 12.31%, and 5.4%, respectively. Significant xenia effects were observed on fruit traits with different male parents. Pollination with ‘Tarocco’ most significantly increased single fruit weight and TSS in ‘Kiyomi tangor’ fruits. SCoT analysis identified 891 true hybrids from nine cross combinations, with an average hybridity rate of 99.78%. Genetic diversity analysis revealed that the polymorphism ratio among hybrid progenies ranged from 42.11% to 94.59%, with the ‘Kiyomi tangor’ × ‘Asumi’ combination showing the highest genetic diversity. Conclusion Xenia effects show significant parental dependency. ‘Asumi’, ‘Hongyun Xianggan’ and ‘Huangguogan’ are identified as the optimal male parents for ‘Kiyomi tangor’, ‘Ehime Kashi 38’, and ‘Orah’, respectively. The hybrid progenies possess high genetic diversity, primarily attributes to parental genetic background differences and gene recombination during hybridization. The novel hybrid germplasm created in this study provides core breeding materials for late-maturing citrus improvement, and SCoT molecular markers proved to be an efficient tool for hybrid identification.

Key words: citrus, xenia effect, SCoT molecular marker, hybrid identification, hybrid breeding, genetic diversity