Genetic stability assessment of garlic (Allium sativum L.) regenerants is essential when true-to-type plants are the desired final product. In the following study, shoot tip explants totaling 23 genotypes, comprising 22 local garlic genotypes and one accession imported from China, underwent in vitro culturing as mother plantlets and sub-cultured ones. Genetic stability assessment among the individuals of identical genotypes between the mother plantlets and their first subculture used two different molecular markers—simple sequence repeat (SSR) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR). SSR and ISSR markers’ analysis revealed a high degree of genetic monomorphism among individuals within the identical genotypes. The highest genetic stability, as indicated by identical genetic similarity coefficient values of 0.49 and 0.61 for SSR and ISSR markers, respectively, was evident among the mother plantlets and the first subculture. The individuals with identical genotypes, such as Eban NTT, Lokal Jawa, and Tes, appeared to be different, presumably due to genetic variations detected by SSR and ISSR markers. The SSR and ISSR markers together allowed the detection of higher polymorphism than either the set or the molecular markers alone. This successful clonal genetic stability assessment of micropropagated local garlic using SSR and ISSR markers demonstrates its potential for further applications.
Garlic (A. sativum L.), plantlets, genetic stability, genetic similarity, in vitro, ISSR and SSR, polymorphism
In in vitro propagated garlic (A. sativum L.) plantlets, the genetic stability assessment was effective with the SSR and ISSR markers, which paved the way for further application. Required further studies could elucidate the factors contributing to genetic variations in in vitro propagation.