title: Molecular characterization and population structure of the macaw palm, Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae), ex situ germplasm collection using microsatellites markers.
abstract: The Acrocomia aculeata is one of the most promising plants for sustainable production of renewable energy. In order to understand patterns of the distribution of the allelic diversity of A. aculeata ex situ germplasm collection, the present study investigated the hypothesis that the genetic variability of the accessions may match their geographical origin. A genotypic analysis of 77 A. aculeata accessions was conducted with 6 simple sequence repeat markers. A high degree of molecular diversity among the accessions was found, with an average of 9 alleles per locus and a polymorphic information content with a mean of 0.76. A total of 4 clusters was identified by the Bayesian analysis of population structure. The highest subpopulation diversity was identified in Pop1, mainly formed by accessions from State of Mato Grosso do Sul. The populations Pop2A, Pop2B, and Pop2C, all from the State of Minas Gerais, showed high genetic variability as determined by a higher F st, and a wide genetic variance, which were identified within and among the population by analysis of molecular variance. Based on our results and on Vavilov's theory on crop origins, one possible diversity center for A. aculeata is proposed to be in a region in southeast Brazil.
authors.affiliation: From the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Lanes, Motoike, and Freitas); and Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Motoike, Kuki, and Nick). edercml@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Éder C M
authors.initials: ÉC
authors.lastname: Lanes
authors.affiliation: From the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Lanes, Motoike, and Freitas); and Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Motoike, Kuki, and Nick).
authors.forename: Sérgio Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Motoike
authors.affiliation: From the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Lanes, Motoike, and Freitas); and Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Motoike, Kuki, and Nick).
authors.forename: Kacilda N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Kuki
authors.affiliation: From the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Lanes, Motoike, and Freitas); and Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Motoike, Kuki, and Nick).
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nick
authors.affiliation: From the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Lanes, Motoike, and Freitas); and Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil (Motoike, Kuki, and Nick).
authors.forename: Renata D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D028023:Arecaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001938:Brazil; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics
keywords: biofuel; diversity center; domestication; gene pools; speciation