Genetic diversity of cambui trees (Myrciaria floribunda (West ex Willd) O. Berg) differentiated by the color of the fruit

Abstract

The cambui tree (Myrciaria floribunda (West ex Willd) O. Berg), is a native fruit tree from Brazil, whose fruit present potential in natura and industrial consumption. Our objective was to evaluate the genetic diversity between individuals differentiated by fruit color - orange and purple, by using ISSR molecular markers. The plant material belongs to the Caju Private Natural Heritage Reserve, experimental field of Embrapa Coastal Tablelands, in the municipality of Itaporanga d’Ajuda, SE. Young leaves from 25 individuals (15 with orange color fruit and 10 with purple color fruits) were collected for DNA extraction and PCR-ISSR analysis with 15 primers, which produced a total of 93 bands, being 95.5% of them polymorphic. The mean similarity was 0.53, based on the Jaccard coefficient. The least similar individuals were FR5 and FL8; FR5 and FL9; FR1 and FR5. The most similar pairs of individuals were FL3 and FL4; FL4 and FL5. The UPGMA analysis clustered the individuals into two groups. Although no specific molecular marking that characterizes fruit coloration has been found, there is genetic variability among the evaluated individuals.