Genetic diversity of palms was studied by means of enzymatic polymorphism using polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis and a DNA polymorphism assay based on the amplification of random DNA segments, denominated RAPD. Species and ecotypes from genus Euterpe, Bactris, Elaeis and Syagrus were utilized. Palm leaf extracts were utilized for isozymes of malate dehydrogenase (MDH), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI), phosphoglucose mutase (PGM), acid phosphatase (ACP), peroxidase (PRX), esterase (EST), and the RAPD markers technique, using the A and B kits from Operon Technologies. Interespecific differences were observed, as well as distinctive patterns for palm hybrids. Some bands were observed in addition to those cited in the literature where starch gel electrophoresis was used for enzymatic polymorphism. The conclusions with regard to polymorphic patterns obtained using the RAPD technique confirmed those observed with isozymes, with the advantages of its greater efficiency and ability to process a large number of samples.
heart of palm; peach palm; variability; hybrids
