Candidate Molecular Markers for Monoecy in Dioecious Tree Spice Nutmeg ( Myristica fragrans Houtt.) and Analysis of Genetic Variability in a Core Collection

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) is a major tree spice valued for its diverse uses in flavouring and pharmaceutical industry. Dioecious sex nature is the greatest bottleneck in its cultivation, and to avoid the male plants commercial orchards, propagation is necessitated through budding and grafting. Previous attempts to develop molecular markers linked with the female sex form were differentially successful. For higher yields, planting should be done using monoecious plants or at the sex ratio of one male plant for 10 female plants. Thus, the development of a marker will enable identification of monoecy at seedling phase itself and hence the selection of seedlings for planting.