Development of Nuclear DNA Markers for Applications in Genetic Diversity Study of Oil Palm-Pollinating Weevil Populations.

The oil palm-pollinating weevil ( Faust) was introduced from Cameroon, West Africa, to Malaysia in 1981, and subsequently, to other oil palm-growing countries as well. This study aims to develop a set of robust -specific nuclear DNA markers to directly assess the genetic diversity of the weevil populations. A total of 19,148 SNP and 223,200 SSR were discovered from 48 weevils representing three origins (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Riau) using RAD tag sequencing.

Leaf transcriptomic signatures for somatic embryogenesis potential of Elaeis guineensis.

Potentially embryogenic oil palms can be identified through leaf transcriptomic signatures. Differential expression of genes involved in flowering time, and stress and light responses may associate with somatic embryogenesis potential. Clonal propagation is an attractive approach for the mass propagation of high yielding oil palms.

Distribution of Flavonoids and Cyclohexenyl Chalcone Derivatives in Conventional Propagated and In Vitro-Derived Field-Grown Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf.

The distribution patterns of flavonoids and cyclohexenyl chalcone derivatives in conventional propagated (CP) and in vitro-derived (CPA) field-grown plants of an important medicinal ginger, Boesenbergia rotunda, are described. A total of eight compounds were extracted from six organs (rootlet, rhizome, shoot base, maroon stem, stalk, and leaf) of the CP and CPA plants. Five major chromatographic peaks, namely, alpinetin, pinocembrin, pinostrobin, 4-hydroxypanduratin A, and panduratin A, were consistently observed by high performance liquid chromatography.