Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) was believed capable to accumulate high carbohydrate content in its trunk. The capability of sago palm producing high carbohydrate should be an appropriate criterion for defining alternative crops in anticipating food crisis. The objective of this research was to study genetic diversity of sago palm in Indonesia based on cpDNA markers. Total genome extraction was done following the Qiagen DNA isolation protocols 2003. Single Nucleotide Fragments (SNF) analyses were performed by using ABI Prism GeneScan R 3.7. SNF analyses detected polymorphism revealing eleven alleles and ten haplotypes from total 97 individual samples of sago palm. Specific haplotypes were found in the population from Papua, Sulawesi, and Kalimantan. Therefore, the three islands will be considered as origin of sago palm diversities in Indonesia. The highest haplotype numbers and the highest specific haplotypes were found in the population from Papua suggesting this islands as the centre and the origin of sago palm diversities in Indonesia. The research had however no sufficient data yet to conclude the Papua origin of sago palm. Genetic hierarchies and differentiations of sago palm samples were observed significantly different within populations (P=0.04574), among populations (P=0.04772), and among populations within the island (P=0.03366), but among islands no significant differentiations were observed (P= 0.63069).

Information of genetic diversity is very important in supporting the implementation of genetic resource conservation and plant breeding. This study aims to determine the genetic diversity of 11 sago palm accessions that have been collected by the Sago Research Consortium (SRC), University of Papua (UNIPA). Methods of research were divided into three steps.Step 1 was DNA extraction by using Geneaid DNA plant Mini Kit.Step 2 was PCR amplification fragments DNA by using KAPA2G Robust HotStart polymerases and performed by using Bio-Rad PCR instrument.Step 3 was purified and sequenced DNA by Macrogen Inc. Seoul, Korea. Data analyses were performed by using a MEGA6.06 software. Morphological characteristics in the rosette stage of 11 sago palm accessions were divided into 4 phenotypes only, and several accessions showed the same phenotypes. Based on atp6-2 gene markers, the 11 sago palm accessions had a different genetic characteristic among the others. Genetic distances among 11 sago palm accessions were in the range among 0.22 and 3.01 with an average 1.21 pairwise distant. Phylogenetic construction showed that the genetic relationship of 11 sago palm accessions was clustered into 6 groups. The accession numbers SP001 and SP002 are in group 1, the accession numbers SP003 and SP011 group 2, the accession numbers SP005 and SP007 group 3, the accession number SP009 group 4, the accession numbers SP008 and SP010 group 5, and the accession numbers SP004 and SP006 group 6. Nucleotide sequence alignments of mitochondrial atp6-2 gene and introns were different from each other in 11 accessions.

The areas of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) forest and cultivation in the world were estimated two million hectares and predicted 50% of that areas located in Indonesia. Distribution of sago palm areas in Indonesia is not evenly distributed as well as their diversities. Information of plant genetic diversities and genetic relationship is very important to be used for germplasm collection and conservation. The objectives of research were revealed the genetic relationships of sago palm in Indonesia based on RAPD molecular markers. Fragments amplification PCR products were separated on 1.7% agarose gel, fixation in Ethidium Bromide, and visualized by using Densitograph. Genetic relationships of sago palm in Indonesia showed that sample in individual level were inclined mixed among the other and just formed three groups. Genetic relationship of sago palm population showed that samples populations from Jayapura, Serui, Sorong, Pontianak, and Selat Panjang were closely related each others based on phylogenetic analysis and formed clustered in one group, event though inclined to be formed two subgroups. Populations from Manokwari, Bogor, Ambon and Palopo were closed related each others, they were in one group. Genetic relationships in the level of island were showed sago palm from Papua, Kalimantan, and Sumatra closely related. Sago palms from Maluku were closed related with sago palm from Sulawesi whereas sago palm from Java separated from the others. Based on this observation we proposed that Papua as centre of sago palm diversities and the origin of sago palm in Indonesia. This research informed us the best way to decide sago palm places for germplasm of sago palm conservation activity.

No abstract

Riyanto R, Widodo I, Abbas B. 2018. Morphology, growth and genetic variations of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) seedlings derived from seeds. Biodiversitas 19: 632-638. Propagations of Sago palm using seeds will result in large variations of seedlings due to segregation resulting in the genetic diversity. The objectives of this study are to observe the morphology, growth and genetic variations of sago palm seedlings derived from seeds resulted from natural pollination. Morphological diversities of sago palm seedlings showed in high variations with the similarity coefficient ranging from 10% to 69%. Growth patterns of sago palm seedlings were divided into three categories i.e slow, medium, and fast growth. Genetic characters of sago palm seedlings showed that sago palm seedlings were varied with coefficients ranging from 23.6-74.5% and seedlings samples were separated into three groups of 49% the differentiation level. Based on the morphological, growth, and genetic characteristics of sago palm seedlings derived from seeds, it is predicted that sago palms in the natural condition may occur because of cross-pollination.

Abstract. Abbas B, Tjolli I, Dailami M, Munarti. 2019. Phylogenetic of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) and others monocotyledon based on mitochondrial nad2 gene markers. Biodiversitas 20: 2249-2256. Sago palm forest and sago palm semi cultivated are found in the Papua islands as well as Ambon and Seram islands. The diversity center of sago palm is found in the Papua Islands. The objectives of this study are revealed sequence DNA mitochondrial associated with nad2 genes in sago palm accessions and molecular phylogenetic of sago palm and other monocotyledon plants. Plant materials used in the studies were derived from Sago Research Center (SRC) and sequencing and other monocotyledon were retrieved from the GenBank, NCBI accessions. Young fresh leaflets were derived from the experimental field of SRC and DNA extraction by following the procedure of Plant Genomic DNA Mini Kit and then PCR performed by using nad2 primer sets. Thereafter, DNA PCR product was sequenced by Macrogen Inc., Seoul, Korea. Sequences of nad2 genes in sago palm accessions from Papua, Indonesia were registered by GenBank NCBI for further used in the future as biological authenticity from the certain location. Mitochondrial DNA sequences associated with nad2 genes in the genome of sago palm were shown no differences among sago palm accessions. Molecular phylogenetic of sago palm and others monocotyledon based on nad2 gene markers showed the sago palm and others monocotyledon incorporated into two major clades and five subclades. Sago palm, coconut, and date palm were described as close related and being in the same subclades.

Abstract. Yater T, Tubur HW, Meliala C, Abbas B. 2019. Short Communication:  A comparative study of phenotypes and starch production in sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) growing naturally in temporarily inundated and non-inundated areas of South Sorong, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20:  1121-1126. Sago palm forests and sago palm semi cultivation are generally spread in swampy areas, seasonally inundated areas and non-inundated areas. The objectives of this study are to determine and compare the phenotypes of and starch production by sago palms growing naturally in the temporarily inundated areas (TIA type) and non-inundated areas (WIA type) in South Sorong District, West Papua Province, Indonesia. Sago palms of both habitats were found to be the same variety based on analysis of vernacular names and general characteristics. Comparison of morphological characters related to starch production of TIA and WIA types showed that there were no significant differences between the two studied types. The distribution of starch along the sago trunk was observed to be uneven, higher starch accumulation was found in the middle part of the trunk which was significantly different from the lower and upper parts of the trunk.

Abstract. Abbas B, Tjolli I, Munarti. 2020. Genetic diversity of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) accessions based on plastid cpDNA matK gene as DNA barcoding. Biodiversitas 21: 219-225. Metroxylon sagu Rottb is one of the plant species including in the Palmae family that deposits starch in the trunk. Sago palm was reported has high capability to produce a large amount of starch and large variation starch qualities which were mostly influenced by genetic factors. The objectives of this study are revealed sequence chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) associated with matK genes for the genetic diversity identification of sago palm accessions. Plant materials used in the studies were derived from Sago Research Center (SRC) collection. DNA extraction has adopted the procedure of Plant Genomic DNA Mini Kit. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed by using primer sets of MatK-1RKIM-f and MatK-3FKIM-r. DNA PCR product was sequenced by the 1st Base Asia, Singapore. Results of the study showed that the cpDNA sequence associated with matK genes in the genome of sago palm showed differences among accessions. Molecular diversities of sago palm accessions based on matK gene showed sago palm accessions separated into two genotypes. Genotype-1 incorporated of ten individuals of 15 accessions and genotype-2 incorporated five individuals of 15 accessions. A mutation site and deletion site occurred in the sequences of matK gene of the Genotype-2. Ten of the 15 sequences of the matK gene (belong to Genotype-1) were registered in the GenBank, NCBI as DNA barcoding and authenticity of sago palm germplasm from Papua islands, Indonesia territorials.