Study of Flowering Behavior and Sex Determination in Garcinia indica (Thomas-Du Pettite) Choisy by Means of Molecular Markers

Garcinia indica (family-Clusiaceae) is highly endemic tree species from tropical rain forest of Western Ghats of India. It is cross-pollinated and polygamodioecious plant. Polygamodioecious is a condition in which trees have both bisexual and purely male flowers on certain branches of same tree. In G. indica there is no morphological or biochemical difference exists between male and female plants; other than flower characteristics. Distinction between male and female plants can not be done until it flowers i.e., about after 10-12 years. Determination of gender of a seedling at an early stage of development will enable the commercial cultivars to maintain the required ratio of male plants in the orchard for fruit production on large scale. Therefore, it is essential to differentiate the plants at seedling stage by molecular markers. Identified male and female plants collected from Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Agricultural University, Dapoli, Maharashtra. The genomic DNA was extracted from leaves and subjected to PCR amplification using RAPD and ISSR primers. Out of 92 RAPD and 28 ISSR primers screened only two RAPD (OPW-05, OPW-08) polymorphic bands in female plants of G. indica. There was only one ISSR primer (UBC-881) which produced polymorphic band only in male plants. Thus in conclusion, it can be stated that these three DNA markers are completely linked with specific sex in G. indica and can be used for screening of seedlings to determine their gender while plantation.