Studies on morphological and molecular characterization and conservation of mango germplasm

Abstract

Studies on morphological and molecular characterization and conservation of mango germplasm were carried out in the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, during December, 2005 to December, 2009. Four systematic experiments were carried out to characterize the variability; to assess the genetic diversity; to evaluate for fruit and pickling characters and to study the effect of cryopreserved pollen. Characterization of 43 accessions maintained in the field gene bank of Indian Institute of Horticultural Research based on IPGRI (Biodiversity International) mango descriptor reveled wide variability for leaf, fruit, flower, inflorescence, pulp and stone characters. Genetic divergence and cluster analysis based on both phenotypic and molecular markers were carried out. Accessions were grouped based on similarity/dissimilarity index. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that fruit descriptors contributed more towards divergence. Cryopreserved pollen was found to be as good as fresh pollen in the inter-specific and inter-varietal crosses. Comparative evaluation of pickling accessions with the commercial and polyembryonic varieties revealed that Dantimamidi and Kovesara possessed good quality characters and was on par with the commercial varieties used in the study. Based on the evaluation of tender mango pickle quality, Chansi Appe, Dodderi Jeerige, Mani Bhatta Appe, Gorana Appe, isagoor Appe, Malange, Dantimamidi, Gurumurty Appe and Kashimidi were identified as good pickling accessions. Possible gene donors for specific traits like attractive skin colour, pulp colour, fruit weight, pulp per cent and TSS was also observed. The morphological characterization data generated in the present study was used to develop a Mango Information System to run on Windows Operating System for ready retrieval and visual comparison.