Development of sex-related DNA markers and revealing the sex chromosome mechanism in Pistacia lentiscus and Pistacia terebinthus species using the new generation sequencing

In this study, by using whole genome re-sequencing DNA data of 15 female and 15 male genotypes of Pistacia lentiscus and Pistacia terebinthus species, the determination of gender-specific region or regions was determined, which can distinguish male and female individuals determined to be gender-related with 100% accuracy, P. lentiscus. It aims to design markers that can be used to breed P. terebinthus species. When the Siirt genome was alignedin whole genome resequencing data of all female and male individuals of P. lentiscus species, 1310 SNPs were found in the same position and thought to be related to gender. The CAPS marker disagned from these regions separated male and female individuals according to base differences using the agarose gel method. Three bands (≈550 bp, ≈410 bp and ≈140 bp) were detected in female individuals, and a single band (≈550 bp) was detected in males. When whole genome re-sequencing DNA data of 15 female and 15 male individuals belonging to P. terebinthus was aligned with the P. atlantica genome, 65 female-specific loci were detected on chromosome 14.2 of the P. atlantica genome. The SCAR marker designed from these regions gave an 800 bp band only in female genotypes but did not give a band in male genotypes. This study determined that P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus species have a sex-related locus specific to female genotypes but not males. Female individuals of these two species have a ZW system, while males have a ZZ system. With this study, these markers can be used in marker-assisted breeding studies, which can distinguish 100% of male and female individuals in these two species.