Genotypic matrix for studying the cashew population structure and genetic diversity in East-Timor

Our study focuses on the assessment of the genetic diversity of cashew populations cultivated in East-Timor using highly informative molecular markers as microsatellites, which are effective in evaluating intra-specific genetic diversity along the evaluation of the population structuring. To accomplish such objective, eleven cashew orchards from East-Timor were assessed with 16 cashew-specific microsatellites applied to screen in-country genetic diversity. Besides an Indonesian population were included as an outgroup, to assess any East-Timor genetic signature; along with two populations from Mozambique, so it could work as a continental outgroup to detect any gene flow between continental-to-island gene flow.Our work is pioneer as no studies have been conducted in East-Timor using a highly comprehensive sampling scheme (over 11 populations) in an emerging cash crop, as cashew. This is particularly important as East-Timor aims to invest in the cashew nut exports by contending directly with competitive countries, as India and Vietnam in the surrounding region. In fact, evaluation and assessing genetic diversity will allow to detect the presence of any East-Timor genetic signature that will acknowledge the valorization of cashew nuts from the country, and prospect agrobiodiversity hotspots in the country, for future cashew germplasm programs.This data involves the genotype matrix generated under this work and used for performing genetic diversity and population structure analyses.<br>