Specific alleles as individual molecular markers and its association for sustainable breeding program in coconut palm

Abstract

Molecular markers through individual identification have been used to protect plant varieties, identify varieties, purity test of seeds, and parented analysis in palm oil breeding programs. However, such identification has not been intensively developed on coconut palm. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain individual-specific markers of Indonesian coconut palms and their association. Coconut palms were selected randomly from 7accessions (74 palms) and then evaluated based on 10 SSR primers and main agro morphological characters. This research was carried out during 2017 and 2018 at Plant Breeding Laboratory, UGM, Yogyakarta and Mapanget Experimental Garden, IPCRI, North Sulawesi. CnCir 123-300, CnCir 87-120, CnCir J2-205 were unique alleles that resulted in this study. Five of eleven specific alleles were associated with essential traits of dwarf coconut. CnCir123-250 and CnCir123-300 were specific alleles associated with almost all characters observed in this study. CnCirA9-100 is the only allele that is negatively associated with the height of 11 leaf scars and positively associated with the main characters. Therefore, it is advantageous as a marker-assisted selection of the current coconut plant breeding program. Applications of specific molecular markers associated with essential characters are expected to improve the sustainability of coconut breeding programs.