Genetic diversity of East Java tobacco varieties: supporting nicotine regulation and industrial nicotine extraction

Abstract

Indonesia is a prominent actor in the global tobacco industry as the largest producer and consumer. The industry is currently transitioning from conventional smoking towards extraction-based nicotine delivery and pharmaceutical applications. The chains shift towards harm-reduction products that allow farmers to remain profitable while improving global health outcomes. This study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity among established East Java tobacco varieties using SSR markers to differentiate tobacco types, including oriental, flue-cured, sun-cured, low- and high-nicotine varieties. We employ 11 SSR markers and 31 prominent tobacco varieties among tobacco farmers in East Java. Our dendrogram demonstrates the ability of the SSR markers to distinctly cluster and differentiate all tobacco varieties. Clustering analysis indicating clear genetic separation and non-overlapping genetic clusters among varieties further demonstrates that the SSR markers are a robust tool for plant variety testing (PVT), supporting reliable genotype identification. This finding provides valuable information on the genetic diversity of tobacco varieties in East Java and provides a framework for future breeding programmes transitioning from traditional cultivation for traditional combustion to developing ultra-efficient industrial nicotine extraction, supporting new global health regulations.