Assesmen Keragaman Morfologi Iles-iles (Amorphophallus muelleri Blume) untuk Perbaikan Produksi

Abstract

Iles-iles (Amorphophallus muelleri Blume) is an apomict, therefore, genetic diversity is considered low. Recent researchs show that molecular variation exists in A. muelleri, but little support by variation on the level of plant morphology. Objective of the present study was to access morphological variation on A. muelleri in order to develop new variety with high productivity for intercropping system. Observation was conducted from July 2015 to March 2016 in farmer field in Bogor and University Farm Leuwikopo, IPB Bogor, West Java. Results showed that there was morphological variation on leaf and inflorescence, and rooting ability, although those variations existed in low frequency. A. muelleri commonly had tripartite branch, but five plants had pentapartite branches. One plant had petiole with double leaf blades, nine inflorescences had double spathe, and 95 inflorescences coexist with leaf. Flowering plants produced less root number that those of vegetative plants; root absent in 2–4% of flowering plant at anthesis. These morphological variations could be used in crop improvement in the future in A. muelleri. This finding implies the importance to study stability of the morphological variation of it sibling, and the uses molecular marker to asses the diversity.