Keragaman Genetik Aksesi Pinang (Areca catechu L.) Asal Papua, Sulawesi Utara, dan Sumatera Utara Berdasarkan Karakter Morfologi dan Penanda RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA)

Abstract

Areca nuts (Areca catechu L.) is a palm plant that has not been studied intesively than other palm crops (coconut). Areca nuts is used as ingredients of medicines, cosmetics, and ceremonial, as well as a symbol of social and cultural relationship. The objectives of these studies were to explore genetic diversity of areca nuts accessions (Areca catechu L.) from Papua, North Sulawesi and North Sumatera that were collected and planted in Experimental Station Kaiwatu, Indonesian Coconut and Palmae Research Institute (Balitka), Manado. These studies were conducted in July 2010 - June 2011. Plant morphological characters were observed and measured and DNA markers were identified using two primers RAPD. Data were analyzed using the program NTsys 2.02. Morphological characters for eight accessions of areca nuts has a similarity level 6%. However, the similarity of six areca nuts accessions, representing three provinces, based on DNA markers was 49%. Individual areca nuts palms are not groupped into their accession, based on either morphological or DNA markers.