Characterization of leaf morphology on several rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) cultivars from Serang City, Banten, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Windarsih G. 2022. Characterization of leaf morphology on several rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) cultivars from Serang City, Banten, Indonesia. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 8: 18-23. Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) is of tropical fruit with an extensive distribution. In Indonesia, rambutan has many cultivars and wild relatives, which spread in many regions, including Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan. As rambutan begins to produce fruits for the first time in 3-4 years and then has fruits once a year, the leaf characters need to be observed to obtain specific markers to be used to distinguish among rambutan cultivars in a vegetative phase. The purpose of the study was to characterize several rambutan cultivars from Serang City, Banten, based on leaf morphological characteristics. Seven plants of five rambutan cultivars in the area of Serang City, Banten, were collected to observe leaf morphological characteristics. Based on the results, all rambutan cultivars observed had variations in the number of leaflets per leaf, rachis length, length of petiole, leaflet length, leaflet width, leaflet shape, and leaflet apex. Therefore, the leaflet length, leaflet width and petiole length could be used as informative characters to distinguish Rapiah from other cultivars.