Application of RAPD Molecular Technique to Study the Genetic Variations of Citrus in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia is a tropical country with superior local citrus species and varieties. Citrus fruits were very useful for cultivation, especially to meet the nutritional needs of the wider community. A province in Indonesia, namely South Sulawesi is one of the centers for citrus development. A preliminary study showed various cultivated citrus in South Sulawesi namely Mandarin Orange cultivar Selayar, Mandarin Orange cultivar Batu, JC lime, Pummelo Pangkep, tangerine, Santang Madu, Dekopon, lime, and Kaffir lime. This study aims to evaluate genetic diversity at several citrus plantation centers in South Sulawesi using the RAPD technique. The analysis was carried out using five primers. In this study, RAPD primers could be used to characterize the genetic diversity and similarity of thirteen citrus cultivars in South Sulawesi. One informative RAPD primer based on its PIC value was OPC-09. The results of the genetic similarity analysis are presented in the form of a dendrogram. The first cluster consisted of Mandarin Orange cultivar Selayar (Seeded Selayar, Selayar-Selayar, JC-Selayar), JC lime, Mandarin Orange cultivar Batu, Santang Madu, and Pummelo Pangkep (cultivar Pangkep Merah, Pangkep Putih, Pangkep Golla-golla). The second cluster consisted of Mandarin Orange cultivar Selayar (selayar-selayar, JC-selayar), Santang Madu, tangerine, Mandarin Orange cultivar Batu, Dekopon, lime, and Kaffir lime. The clusters with the most distant genetic relationship are cluster A with cluster B, with a genetic similarity of 62%. Meanwhile, clusters with the closest genetic relationship are clusters I and II, with 79% genetic similarity.