Data from: Molecular characterization and population structure of the macaw palm, Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae), ex situ germplasm collection using microsatellites markers

The Acrocomia aculeata is one of the most promising plants for sustainable
production of renewable energy. In order to understand patterns of the
distribution of the allelic diversity of A. aculeata ex situ germplasm
collection, the present study investigated the hypothesis that the genetic
variability of the accessions may match their geographical origin. A
genotypic analysis of 77 A. aculeata accessions was conducted with 6
simple sequence repeat markers. A high degree of molecular diversity among
the accessions was found, with an average of 9 alleles per locus and a
polymorphic information content with a mean of 0.76. A total of 4 clusters
was identified by the Bayesian analysis of population structure. The
highest subpopulation diversity was identified in Pop1, mainly formed by
accessions from State of Mato Grosso do Sul. The populations Pop2A, Pop2B,
and Pop2C, all from the State of Minas Gerais, showed high genetic
variability as determined by a higher F st, and a wide genetic variance,
which were identified within and among the population by analysis of
molecular variance. Based on our results and on Vavilov’s theory on crop
origins, one possible diversity center for A. aculeata is proposed to be
in a region in southeast Brazil.