Biomarker

Assessment of plant genetic diversity can be carried out using morphological, biochemical and molecular DNA markers. The morphological assessment of plant genetic diversity was carried out through progeny tests, provenance tests and other tests by observing the phenotypic appearance of plants. These tests were carried out in different environments with the main focus on qualitative and quantitative characteristics that have economic value as well as biologically important characteristics such as survival, tolerance to environmental stress, production properties and resistance to pests and diseases. Some of these traits are polygenic and their expression is influenced by the environment. The conventional determination of plant genetic diversity takes a long time, is relatively expensive, is influenced by the environment and the diversity obtained is limited and inconsistent.

Molecular markers are defined as specific DNA segments that represent differences at the genome level. DNA is a potential and accurate source of genetic information. DNA is found in almost all cells of all organisms, both living and dead tissues. In addition, the network can be easily stored under field conditions. This molecular marker has an advantage over morphological markers, which is stable and can be detected in all plant tissues, and is not affected by the environment (Zulfahmi, 2013). Molecular markers that have been used in assessing the diversity of a forest plant population are isoenzymes, RFLP, SSR, AFLP and RAPD.

Biochemical markers usually require special tools or methods to observe them. Veterinary genetics and medicine used this marker extensively in the past; for example to determine blood type or the presence of a disease by serological tests). Plant geneticists have been using biochemical markers since the 1960s by using isoenzymes, also known as isozymes. Isoenzyme markers are codominant so they can be used in segregated populations with heterozygous individuals.

Reference:

Zulfahmi. 2013. Penanda DNA untuk Analisis Genetik Tanaman. Jurnal Agroteknologi. Vol. 3 No. 2: 41-52 41.