Jackfruit Genotypes in Southern Nayarit: A Comparative Study of Morphological, Physiological, Physicochemical, Phytochemical, and Molecular Assessments

Abstract

Jackfruit, primarily cultivated in Nayarit, Mexico, has four notable genotypes: “Agüitada”, “Rumina”, “Licenciada”, and “Karlita”, which require thorough characterization. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of these genotypes through an integration of morphological, physiological, physicochemical, phytochemical, and DNA fingerprinting analyses. Measurements were taken from physiological maturity to senescence. SSR and SRAP markers were employed for DNA fingerprinting, and a complete randomized design followed by multivariate analysis was used to observe variable relationships. The results revealed that “Rumina” had the largest leaf size, while “Karlita” had the largest fruit size and the highest respiration rate (117.27 mL of CO2·kg−1·h−1). “Licenciada” showed the highest ethylene production (265.45 µL·kg−1·h−1). “Agüitada” and “Licenciada” were associated with orange bulbs, whereas “Rumina” and “Karlita” were associated with yellow ones. Additionally, “Agüitada” demonstrated higher levels of soluble phenols and carotenoids, indicating greater antioxidant capacity. The Jaccard index suggested moderate genetic diversity among the genotypes, and the dendrogram revealed two genetic clusters. “Licenciada” emerged as a promising genotype, combining high genetic diversity with desirable physicochemical traits. This study highlights the need to broaden future genetic analyses to include a wider range of jackfruit genotypes from various regions, offering a more comprehensive understanding of genetic diversity.