RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 20 June 2008, p. 447-452

APPLICATION OF FLOW CYTOMETRY FOR ESTIMATION OF NUCLEAR DNA CONTENT IN Elaeis

MARIA Madon * ; PHOON Lee Quen * ; CLYDE, M.M. ** ; MOHD DIN Amirudin *

ABSTRACT

A method was established and proposed to be the standard protocol for estimating the genome size of oil palm [Elaeis guineensis and intraspecific hybrids, E. oleifera and oleifera x guineensis (O x G) interspecific hybrids.] The method used is laser-sourced flow cytometry. Oil palm frond – 1 leaflets, LBO1 lysis buffer and Glycine max cv. Polanka ( as external standard) were used for the DNA content estimation. The 2C DNA contents of E. guineensis for the different fruit types were: dura (D) = 4.10 ± 0.20, pisifera (P) = 3.64 ± 0.28 and tenera (DxP) = 3.83 ± 0.31 pg. A simple average gave the DNA content for E. guineensis as 3.86 ± 0.26 pg.

KEYWORDS:


* Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
P. O. Box 10620,
50720 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
E-mail: maria@mpob.gov.my

** School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences,
Faculty of Science and Technology,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor,
Malaysia.