IDENTIFICATION OF THE SEX IN VITROPLANTS OF THE MSXJ HYBRID PAPAYA (Carica papaya L.) USING MOLECULAR MARKERS

Abstract

Objective: To identify the sex in vitro plants of the MSXJ hybrid papaya (Carica papaya L.) obtained via somatic organogenesis, using molecular markers SCAR type.

Design/methodology/approach: Plants of the MSXJ hybrid papaya with eight months of age and during the fruiting stage were collected at the municipality of Cotaxtla, Veracruz. They were superficially disinfected, with plenty of running water, detergent for 30 minutes, 70% alcohol was added for one minute, 30% commercial chlorine for another 30 minutes and rinsed with sterile distilled water. Subsequently the meristems were grown under a MS medium, and after 30 days a subculture was performed. The extraction of DNA was performed using the Doyle and Doyle method. The PCR was done by the Deputy et al. method, and initiators T1, T12 and W11 were used.

Results: Initiator T1 was positive control. Initiators T12 and W11 allowed the amplification of fragments identifying hermaphrodite, female and male plants, while the T12 and W11 initiators were specific to hermaphrodite plants.

Study limitations/implications: Papaya producers know the genus of plants three months after planting. Sexuality in papaya plants cannot be differentiated until the flowering step.

Findings/conclusions: the implementation of molecular markers could facilitate large-scale plant selection, reducing costs, maintenance time and the elimination of plants with unwanted sex.