Introduction - Genomics of Cultivated Palms - page 6

proliferating ability is sequenced in oil palm [29] . A promoter specific to endosperm tis-
sue is isolated from coconut [30] as well as metal-inducible metallothionein promoter
from oil palm [31] . Cloning of copia-like repetitive elements in coconut [32] led to the
development of inverted sequence tagged repeat (ISTR) markers from the sequences. So
far, among the palms, transgenic plants are reality only in oil palm [33] .

1.6 Cross-Transferrable Microsatellite Markers in Palms

Microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci are powerful codominant mark-
ers to analyze genetic diversity and genome mapping. When these loci are conserved
across the taxa, a given set of primers and the probability of amplifying the same
(orthologous) gene in multiple species is great. Hence, such markers serve as a com-
mon tool to study multiple taxa such as the WRKY loci [22] in palms. Markers devel-
oped in model crop species such as rice are also useful for other monocots, including
palms [34] . Microsatellite markers developed in a palm genus are also useful to other
related palms. Cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers of a palm species
[35-37] is reported in related species or genera ( Table 1.5 ) of other palms.

1.7 Databases and Software

Advances in information technologies and sequencing technologies have made the
job of analyzing and understanding the genomes and plants both cheap and quick.
Online databases and genomic resources are available for aiding improvement of the
four plant families ( Table 1.6 ). A few resources are available for palms [40] , viz. ,
coconut [41] and oil palm [42] , and an expert system software, for ornamental palms
[43] . There are also many Internet resources ( Table 1.7 ) and a few cyberspace dis-
cussion groups ( Table 1.8 ) available to help palm workers.

1.8 Constraints and Opportunities in Genomics of Palms

To a great extent, molecular biology tools aid in reducing the time, space, and
resources necessary to enhance breeding efficiency. At present, molecular markers

Table 1.5 Cross-Species Validation of Microsatellite Markers in Palms

Originally Developed in Cross-Species Amplification in Reference

Oil palm Coconut, Jessenia batana [35]

Date palm Oil palm, Pritchardia , Astrocaryum [36]

Coconut Rattans [37]

Bactris gasipaes Other species of Bactris [38]

Date palm Other species of Phoenix [35,39]