Genetic Diversity of Green and Pink Color of Ananas comosus var. erectifolius (LB Smith)

Ananas comosus var. erectifolius (LB Smith) Coppens & Leal (Curaua) is a native to the north region of Brazil; it belongs to Bromeliaceae, which has bracts with a wide spectrum of colors, ranging from green to purple. In order to know the genetic basis and to associate the morphological aspects related to the color of the bracts we evaluated 47 samples collected in the valley of Santarem. About 11 of the microsatellite loci developed for A. comosus var. erectifolius were applied. Regarding the color of the bracts, from 47 samples, 12 individuals presented a spectrum of purple colors and 35 individuals presented a spectrum of green color. Total genomic DNA was extracted using 2% CTAB protocol with modifications from 60 mg of the bract base, and quantified after agarose gel 1% by comparison with known molecular weight standards. Of the six selected loci, three were polymorphic and three monomorphic. The heterozygosity for each group of plants was 0.26 for the green and 0.25 for the purple color. For the three polymorphic loci the results prove reduced genetic variability. It was observed that two from three polymorphic loci, distinguished the green group from purple samples. The result showed important markers in the distinction between green and purple types.