Phenetic relationship of Pasuruan snakefruits (Salacca zalacca (gaertn.) voss.)

Pasuruan is one of the districts in East Java known for a diversity of snakefruit. Two subdistricts, namely Gondang Wetan and Pasrepan, have been known for a long time to have the highest production of snakefruit in the area. There are four variants of snakefruit plants found growing in Kersikan, Ranggeh, Wonosari (belonging to the Gondang Wetan subdistrict area) and Tempuran (belonging to the Pasrepan subdistrict area). Although there are four variants, the community recognizes only two variants, namely Kersikan and Tempuran. To determine whether the four variants are each able to be distinguished as variants, this study aimed to analyze their diversity as well as to determine their relationship through phenotypic characteristics, the most readily observable characteristics and familiar use by local people. In this study, 15 samples were taken in each place for observation of 30 characters, especially rachilla, fruits, and taste. Phenetic clustering was constructed using NTSYSpc version 2.11a. As a result, the four variants of snakefruit were divided into two clusters, the first cluster was occupied by Kersikan, Ranggeh and Wonosari, and the second cluster was occupied by Tempuran. Both groups had 30% similarity levels. The variants of Ranggeh and Wonosari showed the highest similarity level (73.3%). The Kersikan was separated from the other variants by 63.3%. This result supported local convention for naming snakefruit variants grown in Pasuruan.