EVALUATION OF THE GENETIC RELATIONS OF Amomum aromaticum ROXB. TREES COLLECTED AT POPULATIONS IN PROVINCES OF NORTHERN MOUNTAIN AREA

Abstract

Cardamom (Amomum aromaticum Roxb.) is one of the valuable non timber forest products, the main products are fruits and essential oils from the fruit. Cardamom is considered as a poverty alleviation plant of ethnic minorities in the highlands of the mountainous provinces of Vietnam. Cardamom is one of the plants that are very interested in many provinces. However, recently, due to the impact of climate change, the yield and quality of fruit are increasingly declining. Because there is no good cultivar to restore production. So the study of genetic diversity of Cardamom as a basis important science for research, breeding and conservation of Cardamom genetic resources is necessary. The study conducted a survey and collected 36 samples in 6 typical populations in Vietnam's provinces, including: Mu Cang Chai - Yen Bai; Van Ban, Sa Pa - Lao Cai; Muong Te, Tam Duong, Tan Uyen - Lai Chau. Applying modern genetic diversity analysis technology at the Institute of Biotechnology, the research results have successfully isolated and extracted the total DNA of a number of representative research samples on 1% agarose gel, thereby determining 5 pairs of SSR primers capable of analyzing genetic diversity of Cardamom species. At the same time, the genetic diversity of the studied varieties of Cardamom was determined in the range of 46 - 100%. Since most of the Cardamom individuals studied have a relatively close relationship, the ability to create a hybrid advantage between these individuals is very difficult. Therefore, in order to effectively improve the cardamom variety in the future, it is necessary to have a plan to collect, evaluate, store, preserve and manage the cardamomium gene resources in a rational, systematic and scientific manner.