Biomolecular Analysis of the `Kopyor' Trait in Coconut Plants (Cocos Nucifera L)

News source: Indonesian Biotechhnology Research
Institute for Estate Crops
For further information: E-mail: briec@indo.net.id, 2003-01-01

&Quot;Kopyor&Quot; an Abnormal Fruit Endosperm

THE SPECIFIC nature of `kopyor' on coconut plant is its abnormal fruit endosperm controlled by recessive gene (Kk or kk). Based on phenotypic characteristics, kopyor could not be differentiated from a normal coconut. The objective of this research was to identify the specific protein and DNA contained in kopyor coconut.

Use of Rapd Analysis

RAPD analysis was done on 30 kopyor coconuts and six `dalam' coconuts by using 20 random primers (10 and 23 mer) from Operon and abi. Results showed that among the tested primers, one of abi 117.15 was unable to amplify DNA from the whole plant, while primers of OPH04, OPH08, and OPD.05 produced monomorphic DNA fragment for all kopyor coconuts. Meanwhile, the other 16 primers produced polymorphic DNA patterns with a molecular weight of 0.22-2.65 kb. It was found that there was a conservative DNA fragment with a molecular weight of 517 bp not present in normal coconut. It is possible that a DNA fragment of 517 bp is a potential STS with repetitive sequences of a certain nucleotide carrying the kopyor gene. It can be concluded that specific protein and DNA could be used as a marker for differentiating the kopyor to the dalam.

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