Identification of maturase K (matK) gene in trinitario cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) from Lampung Province and Central Java, Indonesia

This research was conducted to determine the genetic variation in Trinitario cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) accessions obtained from exploration and selection in Lampung Province, named HJ1, HJ2, HJ3, and HJ4, and the earlier Trinitario cocoa accession, named DR2. Identification was performed by comparing the DNA sequence of the matK region in the chloroplast genome. Genomic DNA isolation was performed with samples of old and fresh cocoa leaves. Amplification was conducted using two different primers Mac 02 (872 bp) and Mac 09 (1,153 bp). The sequencing results obtained indicated genetic variation in accession HJ3 amplified using the Mac 09 primer. A dendrogram constructed using the UPGMA method showed that the cocoa accessions from the exploration and selection group (HJ1, HJ2, HJ3, and HJ4) were grouped into one cluster and that DR2 was more ancient than the other four cocoa accessions.