Abstract

Genetic variability of two groups of palms composed with four progenies selected in BRT10 improved populations resulting from successive self-fertilizations of two parents LM2T and LM10T was studied using four polymorphic microsatellites DNA markers of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. The molecular variability of those progenies was analyzed and genetic diversity of each group of palms was deduced. The results of analysis of molecular variance revealed that 59.68% of variance can be explained by palms within each progeny, while 31.24% of total variance was partitioned between the two groups of palms. The program selection of self-fertilizations has created a distinct molecular structure within BRT10 improved populations resulting from LM2T and LM10T. Molecular analysis showed that the partitioning of variance in this breeding program was higher among palms within each progeny than among the two groups of palms. Only the exploitation of molecular data revealed the truly diversified progeny. The use of molecular data analysis in support with agro-morphological assessment should improve the cross performance while maintaining the genetic variation for further progress in subsequent selection cycles.

Key words: Selection, oil palm, molecular variability, BRT10 population.