Microsatellite and SNAP markers used for evaluating pollen dispersal on Pati tall coconuts and Xenia effect on the production of ‘Kopyor’ fruits

Abstract

Abstract Kopyor coconut is one of the many unique coconut types existed in Indonesia. To overcome the problem of low kopyor fruit yield, it is necessary to study xenia effect on the fruit yield of this coconut. The combination of kopyor coconut and normal coconut population selected at infarmers’ coconut plantations consisted of 33 normal coconut trees, and 9 kopyor coconut trees. All adult trees surrounding the 9 kopyor heterozygous (Kk) palms were evaluated as potential male candidate parents (pollen donors). All samples genotypes were determined using four SNAP markers and six microsatellite marker loci, parentage analysis using CERVUS software version 2.0. Results of the analysis indicate that xenia effect reduced kopyor fruit yields. Kopyor heterozygous (Kk) female parents produced low number of kopyor fruits when they were surrounded by many normal homozygous (KK) pollen donors. Out of 99 harvested progeny arrays from the kopyor heterozygous (Kk) female parents, none exhibited kopyor phenotype. The results also indicate that the pollen dispersal from normal homozygous (KK) donor palms range from 0 m (self pollination) to 54 m (outcrossing). The occurence of outcrossing frequency was at least 95% and the selfing frequency is 5%.