Variabilidad genética en cultivares de Musa spp. mediante ADN polimórfico amplificado aleatoriamente (RAPD)

The north of Peru presents favorable abiotic conditions for banana production. However, artificial selection has generated cultivars that are sometimes difficult to distinguish phenotypically, limiting the selection of specimens with resistance to pests and high productive quality. For this reason, genetic material analysis is used to identify the present genotypes. The objective was to determine the genetic variability of 9 Musa spp. cultivars using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The third leaf from each banana plant belonging to a cultivar was selected, and using sterile scissors, a portion was extracted and then dissected into small sections. DNA extraction was then performed, followed by amplification using PCR-RAPD with markers OPA-1, OPA-2, OPA-3, OPA-4, A-01, OPC-2, and OPC-15, to identify genetic variability through polymorphism. Finally, the analysis of the number of amplified polymorphic bands and their respective percentages was performed using R-Studio software, which produced a dendrogram. A total of 76 bands were amplified across the cultivars IC2, Valery, Montecristo, Cavendish Gigante, Red Dacca, Williams, Gran Enano, Gros Michel, and M. paradisiaca cv. Zapatito, of which 41 were polymorphic. The dendrogram revealed a close genetic relationship between five cultivars (Gran Enano, Williams, Montecristo, IC2, and Valery) due to the similarity in their polymorphic bands. In contrast, the cultivars Gros Michel, Red Dacca, and Zapatito showed significant genetic differentiation, not clustering together, due to the absence or greater number of polymorphic bands in each. Evidence suggests that there is significant genetic diversity among Musa spp. cultivars in northern Peru, which represents a strategic resource for genetic improvement. Therefore, the systematic integration of molecular tools into selection and certification processes is proposed, with the goal of enhancing the crop's sustainability and competitiveness in the region.