Chloroplast genes reveal hybridity in mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Abstract: Mango (Mangifera indica L.) encompasses of diverse varieties for different traits owing to their evolution by open pollination and natural selection processes over several generations. Phylogenetic relatedness and confirmation of hybridity of out-crossed progenies in mango are the pre-requisites for improving the precision of selection in trait based breeding. In this context, two chloroplast genes namely trnL and trnF genes localized within the chloroplast LSC region were used for sequence characterization of 8 mango varieties/hybrids to affirm hybridity and trace their inheritance. Sequence annotation and analysis revealed that both these genes were able to discriminate the 8 varieties. The hybridity of Arunika, a progeny generated from a cross between Amrapali and Vanraj, was also confirmed. Sequence level variations in the hybrids in comparison with the parents indicated that the inheritance of chloroplast genes is not strictly maternal but could be even paternal or biparental in nature. Thus, chloroplast genes which were usually thought to be markers for plant species discrimination could also apparently be used as genetic markers for hybridity confirmation at the population level.