Abstract
Cultivation of Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H. J. Lam commonly known as safou to improve the livelihood of the local population has been growing rapidly in the range of occurrence of safou and recent emergence of the market chain introduced by the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) experts has stimulated this further. Domestication through conventional genetic improvement (breeding) of safou has relied on phenotype selection and quantitative genetics through field trials breeding. Technologies to increase productivity, increase sustainable resource use, respond to climate change and enhance efficiency are required to meet demand. Biotechnology applications give a scope for rapid improvement and also facilitate the breeding program. Advantages of biotechnology application using molecular markers in breeding programs includes: study of genetic diversity, DNA fingerprinting of individuals, easy identification of specific traits or genes of interest, rapid propagation of improved genotypes and integration of gene(s) of interest into the species. It also provides genetic basis for selecting individuals and particular regions of the genome in a breeding program, reduce breeding population, can lead to early selection of traits and the development of a new variety with combination of characteristics. The complementary role of these techniques will be necessary for a successful genetic improvement program in the species. This review examines the achievements obtained using classical techniques, emphasizes missing gaps for the application of molecular techniques and discusses the complementary role of biotechnology techniques for a sustainable genetic improvement program in the species. Keywords: Dacryodes edulis, domestication, population, genetic diversity, multiplication, biotechnology and genetic improvement 
Highlights
This review examines the achievements obtained using classical techniques, emphasizes the missing gaps for the application of molecular techniques and discusses the complementary role of these techniques for a sustainable genetic improvement program in the species
The genetic characterization of plant is usually the initial stage after species selection whereby the germplasms are collected in the distribution range of the species to find and create enough genetic diversity in the population
There is the need for future germplasm characterisation that combines both the classical and genetic characterisation using biotechnology tools, to ensure a more complete and informative characterisation that reveals the true genetic diversity of the population
Summary
Application of biotechnology for the domestication of Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H. Advantages of biotechnology application using molecular markers in breeding programs includes: study of genetic diversity, DNA fingerprinting of individuals, easy identification of specific traits or genes of interest, rapid propagation of improved genotypes and integration of gene(s) of interest into the species. It provides genetic basis for selecting individuals and particular regions of the genome in a breeding program, reduce breeding population, can lead to early selection of traits and the development of a new variety with combination of characteristics.
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