Genetic Variation of Coconut Tall (Cocos nucifera L., Arecaceae) in Bali, Indonesia Based on Microsatellite DNA.

Abstract

The coconut has  important roles for economics, traditional medicine and culture,  especially for Hindu’s ceremonial purpose in Bali Island (Indonesia). Each coconut cultivar  has unique characteristics.   The aimed of this research was to determine genetic variation of coconut tall (Cocos nucifera L., Arecaceae) in Bali, based on DNA microsatellite.  Six pairs microsatellite markers were used to determine heterozygosity.

The results showed that total of 80 alleles  were detected by microsatellite with an average of 13.33 alleles per locus, there were 12 alleles on microsatellite locus CnCirA3, 12 alleles on locus CnCirC3, 16 alleles on locus CNZ05, 14 alleles on  CNZ09 , 17 alleles on CNZ21,  and 9 alleles  on microsatellite primer  pairs CNZ51. The mean values of gene diversity (He) and observed heterozygosity (Ho) were 0.8835 and 0.5421, respectively.  The highest heterozigosity  was on bulan tall coconuts cultivar (0.816), the lowest heterozygosity was on bluluk tall coconuts (0.35).

Keywords: unique characteristic, microsatellite, allele, heterozygosity, coconut