MANGIFERA KEMANGA BLUME (ANACARDIACEAE) TAXONOMIC ASSESSMENT FOR GENETIC DIVERSITY BASED ON MOLECULAR SUBSTANTIATION

Abstract

Mangifera kemanga Blume is a wild relative of mango (Mangifera indica) and a local fruit with various potential uses. The community uses its fruit and leaves for food and its wood as a building material. However, the genetic diversity and taxonomic status of M. kemanga species still need more exploration and have a dispute with M. caesia Jack. The presented study aimed to determine the taxonomic status of M. kemanga and its relationship with M. caesia through a molecular approach and to recognize the species’ delimitation. The recorded data analysis used the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer sequence. Carrying out DNA isolation employed the Geneaid Genomic DNA Mini Kit (Plant) protocol, with the DNA sequences analyzed for kinship using Maximum Parsimony and Neighbor-Joining methods and genetic diversity analysis performed using DnaSP 6. A total of 27 trnL-trnF intergenic spacer sequence identification and authentication resulted from BLAST on NCBI as sequences derived from the genus Mangifera. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the accessions of M. kemanga and M. caesia are very similar, hence, considered not as independent species. Thus, based on the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer sequences, M. kemanga is a synonym of M. caesia with taxonomic status as a variety of M. caesia. This molecular-based taxonomic evidence is significant for determining the valid species status of M. kemanga so that it can provide basic information for further studies on biodiversity and germplasm conservation.