The genetic structure and mating system of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae)

Acrocomia aculeata is a perennial, fruit-producing palm tree, native to tropical forests. Its fruits have spurred interest because of their significant potential for use in the cosmetic industry and as feedstock for biofuel. In the present study, the genetic structure and mating system in Acrocomia aculeata were analyzed, using eight nuclear microsatellite loci and samples from São Paulo and Minas Gerais states, Brazil. By means of Bayesian analysis, these populations were clustered into two or three groups. A high multilocus outcrossing rate suggests that outcrosses were predominant, although a certain degree of biparental inbreeding also occurred. Thus, although monoecious and self-compatible, there is every indication that A. aculeata bears a mixed reproductive system, with a predominance of outcrossing. Given the genetic structure revealed hereby, future conservation strategies and germplasm collecting should be focussed on sampling and preserving individuals from different clusters.

Diversidad genética y relaciones de parentesco de las poblaciones silvestres y cultivadas de pejibaye (Bactris Gasipaes, Palmae), utilizando marcadores microsatelitales / Genetic diversity and kin relationships among wild and cultivated populations of the pejibaye palm (Bactris gasipaes, Palmae) using microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity and kin relationships among wild and cultivated populations of the pejibaye palm (Bactris gasipaes, Palmae) using microsatellite markers. The genetic diversity of the peach palm (Pejibaye, Bactris gasipaes Kunth) was evaluated using four nuclear DNA microsatellites in an effort to elucidate the evolution and domestication of this crop. A total of 258 samples from seven wild populations and eleven races were analyzed. All loci were polymorphic and a total of 50 alleles were identified. Average genetic diversity (0.67) and genetic differentiation among populations (Fst=0.16) were high when all populations were considered. Genetic differentiation was lower when the populations were grouped according to their origin into Western and Eastern populations (Fst=0.13 for both). Gene flow was slightly higher among Western populations (Nm=1.71) than among Eastern populations (Nm=1.62). The Putumayo, Yurimaguas, Vaupés, Tucurrique and Guatuso races seem to have been subjected to intense human selection. Hybrid populations exist in Azuero, Tuira, Cauca, Vaupés, Puerto Ayacucho and Solimoes, probably resulting from exchange and introgressions among sympatric wild and cultivated populations. Genetic distance (Dm) was estimated to determine the degree of relationship among populations using the neighbor-joining method; the wild populations from Maracaibo were used as the outgroup. The populations were divided into three general groups: Maracaibo (B. caribaea, B. macana var veragua and B. macana var arapuey), Eastern Amazon (Tembe, Pará and Acre) and a third group with two subgroups, Western (Azuero, Chontilla, Tuira, Cauca, Tucurrique and Guatuso) and Upper Amazon (B. dahlgreniana, Puerto Ayacucho, Solimoes, Vaupés and Putumayo). The genetic relationships strongly support the hypothesis that peach palm was brought into cultivation independently in no less than three areas: the Western Andes (extending into lower Central America); Upper...

Se evaluó la diversidad genética en cuatro microsatélites de ADN de pejibaye (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) para relacionarlos con su evolución y domesticación. Se analizaron 258 muestras procedentes de siete poblaciones silvestres y once razas cultivadas. Todos los loci eran polimórficos y se identificaron 50 alelos en total. La diversidad genética fue alta (0.67). Todas las poblaciones reunidas obtuvieron una alta diferenciación genética (Fst=0.16), pero cuando se separaron en poblaciones occidentales y orientales fue menor (Fst=0.13 para ambas). El flujo genético presente en las poblaciones occidentales fue mayor (Nm=1.71) que en las orientales (Nm=1.62). Por otra parte, se encontró que las razas de Putumayo, Yurimaguas, Vaupés, Tucurrique, y Guatuso aparentemente han sido sometida a una intensa selección humana. Además, la existencia de poblaciones híbridas es el resultado del intercambio entre pueblos del neotrópico e introgresiones con poblaciones silvestres y cultivadas. Se estimó la distancia genética Dm para generar un dendograma por el método del vecino más cercano. Definimos tres grupos de poblaciones: Maracaibo (B. caribaea, B. macana var veragua y B. macana var arapuey), Amazonía Oriental (Tembe, Pará y Acre) y el grupo compuesto por dos subgrupos, Occidental (Azuero, Chontilla, Tuira, Cauca, Tucurrique y Guatuso) y Alto Amazonas (B. dahlgreniana, Puerto Ayacucho, Solimões, Vaupés y Putumayo). La relación genética coincide con la hipótesis de que la palmera del pejibaye ha sido domesticada independientemente por lo menos en tres regiones.

Immature embryo: a useful tool for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. ) genetic transformation studies

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is the highest yielding oil-bearing crop. However, being a perennial crop, genetic improvement of oil palm is extremely slow. Indeed, compared to other annual oil crops such as soybean and rapeseed, genetic manipulations remained less important. Therefore, to remain competitive, oil palm growers and breeders need new and novel approaches. In this report, the potential of immature embryos (IE) as a useful tool for oil palm genetic transformation studies was evaluated. It was evident that IEs were amenable to both direct and Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Due to the abundant supply of IE, optimization of biolistic and Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer into IEs were easily carried out. Transient transformation frequencies were comparable to other plant systems reported, with as high as 97.4 percent recorded for biolistic and 64.4 percent for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Like most moncots, oil palm tissues were less sensitive to kanamycin, geneticin and chloramphenicol. Instead, both hygromycin and phosphinotrycin were toxic 20 mg/l, making both suitable candidates for selecting putative transformants. IEs were also more responsive to in vitro manipulations as compared to other explants such as leaf and root tissues. Rapid in vitro response to callusing and embryogenesis or rapid and highly efficient direct germination resulted in a shorter culture period. This would minimize the production of abnormal clonal palms, which has been associated to chromosomal aberration due to prolonged time in culture. In addition, IEs also allows rapid and direct introduction of elite genes into breeding programs and in biclonal seed production.