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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182168
Title: DETERMINATION OF OFF-TYPES IN A CACAO BREEDING PROGRAM USING MICROSATELLITES

Author
item TAKRAMA, J - CRIG, GHANA
item CERVANTES-MARTINEZ, CUAUHTEMOC - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item PHILLIPS-MORA, WILBERT - CATIE, COSTA RICA
item Brown, James
item MOTAMAYOR, JUAN CARLOS - MASTERFOODS, INC.
item Schnell Ii, Raymond

Submitted to: Ingenic Newsletter
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2005
Publication Date: 9/1/2005
Citation: Takrama, J.F., Cervantes-Martinez, C.T., Phillips-Mora, W., Brown, J.S., Motamayor, J., Schnell II, R.J. 2005. Determination of off-types in a cacao breeding program using microsatellites. Ingenic Newsletter. 10:2-8.

Interpretive Summary: One of the most significant problems in cacao breeding is the mis-identification of parental clones and the subsequent use of mis-identified seedling populations in genetic studies. This problem leads to inconsistencies in the estimation of heritability of important traits and when assigning breeding values to parents. This mis-identification is largely responsible for the limited success of cacao breeding programs. In this study we demonstrate how molecular markers can be used to resolve the mis-identification problems. Using 24 microsatellite markers we were able to identify that progeny of UF 273, a well known cacao parental clone, were actually derived from two different parents. UF 273 type I was the parent of 109 seedlings and UF 273 type II the parent of 149 seedlings in a group of families consisting of 285 total offspring. Using this information we were able to analyze the progeny trail assigning the proper parent for each family.

Technical Abstract: Microsatellite markers were used as diagnostic tool to detect and label off-types from a cacao breeding evaluation at CATIE, Costa Rica. The analysis was carried out by capillary electrophoresis. The genetic identity of parental trees and progeny were determined. A set of 24 microsatellites was used to screen all parental clones. Those microsatellites that detected differences were then used to fingerprint progeny from crosses made with off-type parental trees. The analysis resulted in the identification of two types of UF 273 parental clones involved in nine crosses. Among 285 offspring, 149 plants or 52.3% were identified as the offspring of the type II (off-type) of UF 273. It was not possible to verify the genetic identity of 4 plants or 1.4% of all progeny. The findings from this work show that genotyping parental stock before proceeding on a large-scale breeding program is an essential step.