Development of SCAR marker for sex identification in asparagus

Two sex-linked random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers identified from Asparagus officinalis L. were converted into sequence-characterized amplified regions (SCARs) for the large-scale screening of male and female plants. A total of 100 arbitrary decamer oligonucleotide primers were used for RAPD analysis. The primer UBC319 produced one male-specific 700-bp fragment, while the primer UBC347 produced one female-specific 400-bp band. Subsequently, both amplified RAPD fragments were cloned and sequenced. On the basis of the sequences obtained, two pair of SCAR primers were designed. Their amplification products, named M700 and F400 respectively, were of the same size of the respective RAPD fragment from which they were derived. The F400 SCAR marker resulted to be female-specific in the three varieties utilized. This SCAR marker can be used for a early and rapid identification of female plants during breeding programs of asparagus.