Marker-assisted Identification of Hybrids in Polyembryonic ‘Carabao’ Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Breeding in the Philippines

Authors

• John Edward L. Felipe, Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna, 4031, PhilippinesFollow
• Kyla Andrea G. Mendoza, Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna, 4031, Philippines
• Benjamin Christian J. Esguerra, Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna, 4031, Philippines
• Carolyn E. Alcasid, Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna, 4031, Philippines
• Gino R. Hernandez, Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna, 4031, Philippines
• Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo, Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Los Baños, Laguna, 4031, Philippines

Publication Date

6-1-2026

Abstract

Varietal improvement of the Philippine ‘Carabao’ mango (Mangifera indica L.) through conventional breeding is constrained by polyembryony, which makes it difficult to distinguish zygotic hybrids from nucellar seedlings at early developmental stages. This study evaluated the utility of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for early and accurate identification of hybrids in polyembryonic ‘Carabao’ mango crosses. Genomic DNA was isolated from 24 parental accessions and 61 putative hybrid seedlings using a modified CTAB protocol that yielded DNA suitable for PCR-based marker analysis. Eighty-one SSR markers were screened across 29 parental combinations, of which 64 markers (79.0%) were polymorphic in at least 1 cross. Using 1 to 3 polymorphic SSR markers per cross, 19 of 61 seedlings (31.1%) were confirmed as hybrids based on the presence of non-maternal alleles consistent with the paternal genotype. SSR-41, SSR-3, SSR-11, SSR-82, and MiSHRS-37 showed broad polymorphism across multiple parental combinations and are recommended as an initial screening panel for routine hybridity testing, provided that parental polymorphism is first confirmed for each cross. Additional loci, including MngSSR-18, MMCA34, SSR-30, SSR-36, LMMA6, and MMCA10, may be used when the initial panel is not informative. These findings support the practical and cost-effective use of PCR-based hybridity testing for early-stage identification of hybrids, eliminating maternal clones, managing nurseries, and optimizing resources in ‘Carabao’ mango breeding.

Recommended Citation

Felipe, John Edward L.; Mendoza, Kyla Andrea G.; Esguerra, Benjamin Christian J.; Alcasid, Carolyn E.; Hernandez, Gino R.; and Ocampo, Eureka Teresa M. (2026) "Marker-assisted Identification of Hybrids in Polyembryonic ‘Carabao’ Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Breeding in the Philippines," The Philippine Agricultural Scientist: Vol. 109: No. 2, Article 17.
Available at: https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol109/iss2/17