Marker-assisted sex determination of Myristica fragrans cultivars using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers

Nutmeg plants (Myristica fragrans) can be characterized as dioecious (where male and female flowers are located on different trees). Out of two types of trees only female plants bear the economically valued nutmeg fruits. In a plantation, the ratio of male to female plants should be manipulated 1:10 to obtain a good harvest. However, the nutmeg trees are slow growing and farmers have to wait six to eight year to identify the sex and manipulate the ratio of plant. This project, attempts to develop sex-specific DNA markers in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) which can be used to identify the sex of the plant at early stages.
This research project was developed by IRD genetics team and funded by the income generated through the certificate course conduct by IRD genetics.