STUDY OF GENETIC DIVERSITY AND ANALYSIS OF THE DEGREE OF SIMILARITY IN SOME APPLE AND PLUM VARIETIES USING RAPD MARKERS

Molecular evaluation of germplasm is an important step in breeding programs, and the application of molecular biological techniques has led to important results in terms of both within- and between-species variability of traits. The RAPD technique has been successfully used to reveal allelic polymorphism as well as to measure genetic similarity. In this study, the genetic diversity of 25 genotypes and cultivars for apple species and 26 genotypes and cultivars for plum species was assessed with six RAPD markers. All these cultivars belong to the ex situ collection of apple and the ex situ collection of plum at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti. The average number of amplified bands was 19.2 for apple and 17.66 for plum. Statistical analysis of intraspecific allelic polymorphism was expressed using the PIC (Polymorphic Information Content) index, which takes into account the allelic frequency. Two statistical indices were used to quantify genetic diversity: the Shannon index and the Simpson index. The degree of similarity between varieties was analyzed using the NTSYSpc version 2.1. Following RAPD analyses, the allele sizes of the analyzed varieties were within the range quoted in the literature, the genetic profiles of the studied varieties suggesting a medium to high genetic diversity, except for markers OPBC-04 and OPBB-05 for plum species, which expressed a high genetic diversity. Genetic distances calculated based on polymorphism of migrated bands in agarose gel confirmed the known genealogies of the apple and plum varieties studied. Thus, the smallest genetic distance for apple species was found between 'Jonagold' and 'Golden Delicious', 'Pionier' and 'Rustic', 'Jonathan' and 'Idared', 'Wagener Premiat' and 'Granny Smith', 'Remar' and 'Aura', 'Romus 3' and 'Rome Beauty', and the largest between Malus floribunda and the other genotypes studied. In plum, the smallest genetic distance was found between 'Dani' and 'Tita', 'Roman' and 'Tuleu gras', 'Dara' and 'Haganta', 'Romanța' and 'Stanley', 'Anna Spath' and 'Renclod Violet', and the largest between 'Lama', 'Black Diamond' and the other genotypes studied.

Morphoagronomic and molecular characterization of Euterpe oleracea accessions from eastern Brazilian Amazon

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) - a common tropical palm has high social, economic, and environmental importance in the Amazon region. In the light of increasing exploration to obtain the fruit and heart of this palms, comprehensive studies are warranted for conservation and genetic improvement. Here, we characterized açaí accessions using phenological, morphological, and agronomic descriptors and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers for joint selection of accessions with greater productivity. Hundred accessions were analyzed using 18 morphoagronomic descriptors and 13 RAPD markers. The spathe and inflorescence emission phases during flowering and fruiting showed seasonality. Based on the coefficient of variation and mean squared error, the accessions exhibited high variability in the tested morphoagronomic descriptors and were distributed into seven groups. Fruit, seed, and pulp weights were important descriptors for the distinction of accessions and identification of those with greater productivity. The accessions presented >85% similarity, and 85 accessions, distributed in nine subgroups, could not be differentiated using RAPD markers. There was no correlation between grouping based on morphometric descriptors and RAPD markers. Panicle weight was 3.9-9.0 kg in 15 accessions and 100-fruit pulp weight was 35-50 g in six accessions. Therefore, accessions with high productivity could be selected.

Genetic diversity of Aquilaria microcarpa Baill. in Kalimantan using RAPD Markers

Aquilaria microcarpa is one of the agarwood producers species included in the endangered category based on the IUCN red list. Kalimantan is one of the natural distributions of this species. The high demand for agarwood causes this species to be commonly cultivated in community plantations. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of A. microcarpa using the RAPD markers. Forty-four leaf samples of A.microcarpa were collected from the local community in Gumbil (South Kalimantan) and Sanggau (West Kalimantan). The results showed that 9 out of 24 RAPD primers were stable in amplification, and polymorphic totally consisted of 49 polymorphic loci. The values of unbiased expected heterozygosity (uHE) were at a low level; they ranged between 0.152 (Gumbil II) to 0.249 (Gumbil I). The average genetic distance between Gumbil and Sanggau is 0.1733, related to their geographic distance. A private allele was only found at Gumbil at locus G18/540 and Sanggau at locus G18/550, respectively. A great DA value between Gumbil I and II showed that the plantations originated from different seed sources. AMOVA also verified the differences between the two populations. This finding has important implications in managing plantations and seeds transfer.

Genetic diversity of Pericopsis mooniana from South Kalimantan based on Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA (RAPD) Markers

The genetic diversity and relationship of Pericopsis mooniana collected from Pulau Laut, South Kalimantan, was analyzed using RAPD markers. Currently, the natural distribution of P. mooniana in Pulau Laut no longer exists. Instead, PT Inhutani II, as the concession holder in the area, had collected the remaining P.mooniana and planted it in the seed orchard, arboretum, or around PT Inhutani’s mess/office. Forty-two samples from four locations: mess/residential house (3), seed orchard (33), arboretum (3), and PT Inhutani II Unit Stagen (3) were analyzed using seven RAPD primers. Our study showed that the total genetic diversity of all populations was low (He = 0.191 ± 0.013). P. mooniana collected from seed orchards had the highest diversity (He = 0.289 ± 0.021), while the lowest was from mess/residential houses (He = 0.134 ± 0.025). The genetic relationship data indicated the possibility that P. mooniana from mess/residential house, arboretum, and seed orchard may come from the same origin. These results can be used to support the development of ex-situ conservation plots to avoid inbreeding depression. At the same time, the genetic diversity will be helpful in its conservation and further utilization, such as establishing the plantations to reduce the pressure of the species in nature and provide valuable timber production in Indonesia.

ANALYSIS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OF 26 CASSAVA VARIETIES (Manihot esculenta CRANTZ) WITH DIFFERENT RESPONSES TO WATERLOGGING CONDITIONS BY USING RAPD MARKERS

RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) is an indicator for high and stable polymorphism, widely used in the study of the diversity of cassava. In this paper, the results of using 20 polymorphic primers OPK combined with the establishment of the phylogenetic tree to analyze the genetic diversity of 26 cassava varieties with different responses to waterlogging conditions by using the RAPD-PCR technique were presented. The purpose of this experiment was to show the genetic relevance of the studied cassava varieties. The results showed that the flood tolerance of cassava was not related to the polymorphism and branching characteristics of the stem. This information may be use as a basis for selecting flood-tolerant cassava varieties for cassava production, as well as the basis for selecting genetically different parents for breeding.

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Ocimum spp. using Agro-morphological Traits and RAPD Marker

In the present study, morphological and genetic diversity is revealed among the four species of Ocimum. Among the morphological characters plant height, the number of leaves, leaf area, leaf width, leaf length, stem circumference and mitotic index studied and contributed a greater proportion of variations. RAPD markers revealed a high degree of polymorphism (88.89%) among the species of Ocimum. Dendrogram study revealed that the species O. gratissimum and O. basilicum are very closely related whereas O. kilimandscharicum and O. sanctum are distantly related in the phylogenetic history.