Cross-species amplification and characterization of new microsatellite markers for the macaw palm,Acrocomia aculeata(Arecaceae)

Abstract

Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are useful molecular markers allowing for efficient conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of plant species. Development of SSR marker system for new species is a very expensive task and time consuming. Cross-species amplification of microsatellite loci is considered as a cost-effective approach for developing microsatellite markers for new species. The aim of this work was to examine the transferability of some SSR markers of two Arecaceae species (Astrocaryum aculeatum and Elaeis oleifera), in Acrocomia aculeata. Out of the total markers analysed 44% of the markers successfully amplified the genomic DNA in A. aculeata, of which 26% were polymorphic detecting a range of three to eight alleles with an average of 4.5 per locus. High average percentage of polymorphic loci (P= 71.2%) per provenance was obtained within a range of 57–100% detecting genetic variation in A. aculeata germplasm collections. The polymorphic markers detected a positive inbreeding coefficient (F>0) per locus revealing heterozygote deficiency in the accessions that were analysed. As the cross-amplification was at family level, in which the taxonomic distance is relatively wider between the sources (A. aculeatum and E. oleifera) and the target (A. aculeata) species, the amplification success was relatively low. However, the results are promising and implicated that high cross-amplification success could be achieved at species or genus level in A. aculeata. The markers will contribute towards the domestication of the potential macaw palm through realizing various studies such as population genetics, germplasm characterization, genetic improvement and conservation.

Assessing the genetic vulnerability of Macaúba palm [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.] through the mating system and genetic diversity of open‐pollinated progenies

“…For the entire sample set plants (356 plants, 86 from NP and 270 progenies), the 14 microsatellite loci analysed were polymorphic. This result confirms the polymorphism found with this marker in A. aculeata in previous studies (Bazzo et al, 2018; Lanes et al, 2015, 2016; Mengistu et al, 2016; Nucci et al, 2008). However, at the gSSR loci were more polymorphic than the EST‐SSR (Table 2).…”

“…Another possible explanation is that inbreeding depression is also contributing to the reduction of homozygotes. (Lanes et al, 2015;Mengistu, 2015) and open pollination progenies (Coelho et al, 2018;Lanes et al, 2016). High levels of genetic diversity are expected in species with high outcrossing rates.…”

“…Microsatellite markers or Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR), have been extensively utilised for several genetic studies in plants because of their abundance, codominant inheritance, and high levels of polymorphism (Kalia et al, 2011; Mason, 2015). In A. aculeata these markers have been employed to assess the diversity and genetic structure of natural populations (Abreu et al, 2012; Coelho et al, 2018; Lanes et al, 2015; Nucci, 2007) and germplasm banks (Mengistu et al, 2016), investigate the mating system (Abreu et al, 2012; Coelho et al, 2018; Lanes et al, 2016) and study inbreeding depression (Simiqueli et al, 2018).…”

Acrocomia spp.: neglected crop, ballyhooed multipurpose palm or fit for the bioeconomy? A review

“…They also included studies on the photosynthetic capacity of acrocomia (Pires et al 2013) as well as microbial and chemical changes in soils of acrocomia habitats (Diniz et al 2014). A major advancement in the context of molecular biology was the development of a protocol for DNA extraction from different tissues (Lanes et al 2013) and cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers for A. aculeata (Mengistu et. al.…”

Molecular Characterization and Genetic Diversity of the Macaw Palm Ex Situ Germplasm Collection Revealed by Microsatellite Markers

“…Five of the primers (Aacu07, Aacu10, Aacu12, Aacu26, and Aacu30) were obtained from Nucci et al [5] and three (Aacu38, Aacu45, and Aacu74) identified from Nucci [27]. The other two markers (Aac04 and Aac12) were obtained from sets of SSR makers originally developed for Astrocaryum aculeatum and selected for A. aculeata [28] (Table 2). PCR products were denatured in a bromophenol blue dye solution at 95 • C for 5 min in the thermal cycler just before running in 6% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 1xTBE (Tris-Borate-EDTA, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, St. Louis, MO, USA) buffer solution at 60 W for 1 h and 40 min.…”