Gene controlling shell phenotype in palm

1. A method for segregating a plurality of E. guineensis palm plants or seeds into different shell phenotype categories, the method comprising:

obtaining the genomic sequence of each palm plant or seed at a polymorphic marker by conducting an assay, wherein the polymorphic marker is in a genomic region corresponding to SEQ ID NO:8218, thereby determing the genotype of the plant or seed at the polymorphic marker,

wherein heterozygosity at the polymorphic marker indicates a tenera shell phenotype, and

segregating the plants or seeds into groups based on the genotype at the polymorphic marker, wherein at least one group contains one of (i) plants or seeds that are heterozygous at the polymorphic marker, or (ii) plants or seeds that are homozygous at the polymorphic marker.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plants or seeds are generated from (i) an attempted cross between a plant having the dura shell phenotype and a plant having the pisifera shell phenotype, (ii) selfing of a tenera palm, (iii) cross between two plants having the tenera shell phenotype, (iv) cross between dura and tenera palms, or (v) cross between tenera and pisifera palms.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plants or seeds are 0-5 years old.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plants or seeds are between zero and one year old.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymorphic marker is within a position in the genomic region corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 8219.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymorphic marker is within 1000 kb from a position in the genomic region corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 8219.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting plants or seeds for cultivation if the plants or seeds are heterozygous at the polymorphic marker.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting plants or seeds for cultivation if the plants or seeds are homozygous at the polymorphic marker.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plants or seeds are discarded if the plants or seeds do not have a genotype predictive of the tenera shell phenotype.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plants or seeds are discarded it the plants or seeds are not heterozygous at the polymorphic marker, wherein heterozgosity at the polymorphic marker indicates the tenera shell phenotype.