Development and characterisation of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) microsatellite markers.

A set 21 SSR (simple sequence repeats) loci are evaluated with estimates of allele size range and expected heterozygosity in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) as in the close related caiaue (E. oleifera, Cortes) species where an optimal transportability of the SSR markers was observed. SSR mendelian segregation allows oil palm breeders to use SSR markers for genetic mapping and for the search of agronomic genes based on both intra- or inter-specific progenies. Multivariate data analysis show the ability of our developed SSR markers to reveal the genetic diversity structure of oil palm and caiaue natural populations, in accordance with already measured relationships and with geographica orgins. Very high levels of allelic variability indicate that SSRs will be a powerful tool for variety identification in the Elaeis species