The West Indian Cherry (Malpighia emarginata DC.) is a crop in expansion in Brazil mainly due to high fruit vitamin C content. However, there is still little information about the species. The objective of this study was to determine the activity and the polymorphism of isozymes from a collection of West Indian Cherry plants. IDH, MDH, EST, POD, ACP, GOT, PGM and PGI isozymes were studied. Starch gel horizontal electrophoresis and different gel/electrode buffers were used. Number of loci and alleles involved in genetic control of these isozymes were identified. IDH was dimeric and had one locus with two alleles. PGM was monomeric and had two loci, with two and four alleles. POD and EST were monomeric and had one and two loci, respectively, all with two alleles each. MDH had two polymorphic loci, one which was monomeric and one dimeric, both with two alleles each. GOT was polymorphic but its inheritance and genetic control was not determined. Polymorphisms of IDH, MDH, POD, EST, GOT and PGM showed potential as genetic markers in West Indian Cherry in studies of conservation and breeding.
Malpighia emarginata; genetic variation; enzymatic analysis; genetic inheritance
