Analysis of the allelic variation in the Shell gene homolog of E. oleifera and design of species specific Shell primers

The “shell thickness” gene (Sh) controls three fruit types in African oil palm [Elaeis guineensis (Eg)] and has important implementations for variety development. Eg plantations in South and Central America suffer severally from the “Pudrición de Cogollo” disease, leading to the development of hybrid varieties between African and American oil palm [E. oleifera (Eo)]. We have analysed the allelic variation of a 237 bp amplicon within the Sh gene...