RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 37 (3) September 2025, p. 451-460

MOLECULAR CHARACTERISATION OF OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) HYBRIDS

ROJA RAMANI, G1*; KALPANA, M1; VENKATSWAMI, D1 and KALYANABABU, B2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2024.0035
Received: 13 August 2023   Accepted: 7 April 2024   Published Online: 11 June 2024
ABSTRACT

For genetic mapping research in a crop like oil palm, polymorphic SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers are crucial. Thirty four SSR loci were used for screening in the current work to test a total of 10 hybrids at molecular level. There were between two and four alleles in these, with 22 of them being polymorphic and 12 being monomorphic. The primer SMG00026 had the greatest Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) value (0.60), while mEgCIR0408 had the lowest (0.14), with a mean PIC value of 0.22. Genetic variation scores varied between 0.15 (mEgCIR0408) and 0.66 (SMG00026), with an average of 0.286. Seven highly polymorphic markers, SMG00026, mEgCIR0074, mEgCIR0353, mEgCIR3350, mEgCIR0555, mEgCIR3886, and mEgCIR0905, were identified based on PIC and other genetic criteria. The oil palm crop development programme can effectively utilise the found polymorphic SSR loci in genetic diversity investigations and mapping. The 10 hybrids were divided into two primary clusters by a total of 22 polymorphic SSRs, and the observed clustering was based on geographic origin. These polymorphic primers can be used effectively because they make it easier to choose promising varieties at nursery stage, which helps both researchers and farmers to modernise the plant breeding programme for oil palm.

KEYWORDS:


1 Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University,
Venkatramannagudem, Andhra Pradesh,
534101, India.

1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research,
Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh,
534450, India.

* Corresponding author e-mail: rojaramanigorle60@gmail.com