 Corresponding author: Atiqa Zhafira Syahputri Rinaldi Department of Biology, Plant Systematics Laboratory, Faculty of Mathematics and Life Science, Andalas University, Limau Manis Padang, 25163, Indonesia. Copyright © 2022 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. Molecular characterization Pinus merkusii native Kerinci revealed by rbcL Atiqa Zhafira Syahputri Rinaldi * and Indah Sukarjo Department of Biology, Plant Systematics Laboratory, Faculty of Mathematics and Life Science, Andalas University, Limau Manis Padang, 25163, Indonesia. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 15(02), 304–308 Publication history: Received on 08 July 2022; revised on 11 August 2022; accepted on 13 August 2022 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2022.15.2.0828 Abstract Pinus merkusii native Kerinci, also known as Sigi, shares the same taxonomic family as Pinus merkusii native Aceh but differs in morphology, anatomy, and physiology. Additionally, P.merkusii Kerinci has a high utilization potential but its population is decreasing and the entry of P.merkusii native Aceh around the Kerinci population can result in the erosion of the original genetic source (germplasm). The molecular characteristics of P.merkusii Kerinci and its differences with P.merkusii Aceh will be studied using rbcL. Molecular character of P.merkusii Kerinci will be compared with P.merkusii Aceh using rbcL marker in 4 individuals. The results obtained for the rbcL analysis are the percentage of conservative characters at 100%, and the four populations of P.merkusii Kerinci and Aceh are located in the same cluster and branch length. This indicates a large percentage of individual similarity between the five populations. These results tend to prove that P.merkusii Native kerinci and Aceh are located in the same taxa species and the rbcL marker cannot distinguish between Pinus merkusii native Kerinci and Aceh. Keywords: Pinus merkusii; Sumatera; Kerinci; RbcL 1. Introduction The only kind of pine that grows in Indonesia is Pinus merkusii, one of the pines that naturally occur in Southeast Asia. Its geographic range includes Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar's eastern region, Indonesia, and the Philippines [13]. P.merkusii is the tallest pine species in the world and has a medium-sized tree that can reach a height of up to 70 m [21]. When the tree is young, its canopy is pyramid-conical, but as it grows, it tends to flatten out and spread out [3]. Only the regions of Aceh, Tapanuli (North Sumatra), and Kerinci on the island of Sumatra naturally accommodate P.merkusii in Indonesia. There are numerous differences between the three populations of P.merkusii in Sumatra in terms of morphology, anatomy, physiology, and genetics [5], [6], [11], [19], [16]. P.merkusii native Kerinci differs from other P.merkusii species in that it has upright stems, thinner bark, and a scaly stem surface that lacks deep grooves, making it more resemblant to the shape of the stems of broad-leaved plants [11]. P.merkusii native Kerinci also referred to as Sigi by the locals, uses P.merkusii as firewood. P.merkusii is generally a plant that is frequently suggested as a pioneer plant in rehabilitation and restoration due to this population's ability to grow well on critical land (rocky soil and steep areas) and because it has potential as an indicator of climate change because it produces a clear growth circle [14], [16]. Additionally, Pinus merkusii has economic significance for the neighborhood, particularly as a producer of wood and latex (gondorukem and turpentine) [3]. In Indonesia, gondorukem and turpentine have long been used as fundamental components in a variety of products, including batik, paint solvents, paper, paint oil, perfume blends, detergents, flavorings, insecticides, lubricants, medicines, and plastics [18], [15].