Ploidy investigation using flow cytometry of Indonesian bananas (Musa spp) collected from explorations program of research center for biology-LIPI (currently national research and innovation agency) across Indonesia during period 2009-2019

• Main Authors: Ahmad, Fajarudin, Martanti, Diyah, Zaelani, Ahmad, Herlina, Witjaksono, Poerba, Yuyu Suryasari
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bananas; Cultivars; Flow cytometry; Germplasm; Research facilities
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0183365

Indonesia is the center of the diversity of bananas that the wild relatives co-exist with the edible bananas or cultivars. The ploidy information of cultivars and wild relatives is imperative for germplasm management for collection and cultivation as well as breeding programs. However, only a few numbers of Indonesian bananas have been empirically confirmed using cytogenetic approaches such as either chromosome counting or flow cytometry. Hence, such approaches are needed to disclose the genetic properties of banana that grow in Indonesia precisely. Flow cytometry is a method that offers a high throughput and is efficient in determining the ploidy level of a plant. In this study, we determined the ploidy level of banana cultivars and their wild relatives that we collected during period 2009 to 2019. In total, we analyzed 257 accession samples. From this analysis, we observed 69 samples were diploid, 168 accessions were triploid, and 21 accessions were tetraploid. Among wild bananas, 14 wild Musa acuminata accessions and four M. balbisiana accessions were diploid. Interestingly, ‘Siem’, ‘Barangan’ and ‘Kepok’cultivars in general, described as triploid bananas, were determined as tetraploid. The result indicates that the ploidy evaluation of Indonesian bananas needs to be continued to disclose germplasm potential for bananas breeding programs in the future. The advent of Indonesian bananas’ ploidy level information not only to understand the genetics of bananas but also will help breeders to select parents for breeding diploid, triploid or tetraploid bananas.