Assessment of the genetic variations of sago palm Metroxylon sagu in three regions of Sarawak, Malaysia using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker

Abstract Background Sago palm ( Metroxylon sagu) is an important staple crop in the rural area of Sarawak, Malaysia. The palms grow well rough, swampy peat, from low flooded areas to uplands and acidic neutral soils. Among starch-producing crops, this most productive promising, where it can store a significant amount carbohydrate trunk. Due lack molecular study sago palm, work described here aimed develop markers for identifying M. sagu accessing genetic variations different locations Sarawak. Results Amplified fragment length polymorphism was employed determine between fifteen populations collected three locations: Mukah, Pusa Samarahan. Based on 35,016 polymorphic fragments generated 32 primer combinations, information content (PIC), marker index (MI) resolving power (RP) averaged 0.269, 0.005157 51.52039 per combination, respectively, were obtained, signifying effectiveness accuracy AFLP marker. Mukah showed higher diversity I = 0.428, H 0.232), while lowest 0.367, 0.240). average value Shannon 0.404. AMOVA 99% variation found within population. Mantel test performed with 9999 permutations. A significantly positive correlation r 0.220, p 0.010) observed divergence population (Nei distance) geographical distance. Conclusions Our considered as effective reliable method assess identification sagu. Graphical