Genetic variability in apomictic mangosteen

Abstract

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangos!ana L.) originated from natural hybridization of G. malaccensis and G. hombronianaMangosteen is reproduced from adventitious embryo, from which the seed develops without fertilization, . i.e. agamospermy or apomixis. Apomictic reproduction mode leads to the idea that the mangosteen population is genetically uniform. However, field evaluation showed variability in both of vegetative and reproductive characters. Further studies using isoenzyme and RAPD markers confirmed the genetic variability among the mangosteen population. Isoenzyme marker also elucidates high variability among Garcinia genus, and did not support the idea of the single origin of G. mangostana. Furthermore, ERAPD and RAPD analysis on parental tree and its progeny shows genetic variability, and deep analysis on polyembriony seedlings from the same seed also show variability on RAPD banding pattern.