Genome size, cytogenetic data and transferability of EST-SSRs markers in wild and cultivated species of the genus <i>Theobroma</i> L. (Byttnerioideae, Malvaceae) da SilvaRangeline Azevedo SouzaGustavo LemosLívia Santos Lima LopesUilson Vanderlei PatrocínioNara Geórgia Ribeiro Braz AlvesRafael Moysés MarcellinoLucília Helena ClementDidier MicheliFabienne Peres GramachoKarina 2017 <div><p>The genus <i>Theobroma</i> comprises several trees species native to the Amazon. <i>Theobroma cacao</i> L. plays a key economic role mainly in the chocolate industry. Both cultivated and wild forms are described within the genus. Variations in genome size and chromosome number have been used for prediction purposes including the frequency of interspecific hybridization or inference about evolutionary relationships. In this study, the nuclear DNA content, karyotype and genetic diversity using functional microsatellites (EST-SSR) of seven <i>Theobroma</i> species were characterized. The nuclear content of DNA for all analyzed <i>Theobroma</i> species was 1C = ~ 0.46 pg. These species presented 2<i>n</i> = 20 with small chromosomes and only one pair of terminal heterochromatic bands positively stained (CMA<sup>+</sup>/DAPI<sup>−</sup> bands). The small size of <i>Theobroma</i> ssp. genomes was equivalent to other Byttnerioideae species, suggesting that the basal lineage of Malvaceae have smaller genomes and that there was an expansion of 2C values in the more specialized family clades. A set of 20 EST-SSR primers were characterized for related species of <i>Theobroma</i>, in which 12 loci were polymorphic. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.23 to 0.65, indicating a high level of information per locus. Combined results of flow cytometry, cytogenetic data and EST-SSRs markers will contribute to better describe the species and infer about the evolutionary relationships among <i>Theobroma</i> species. In addition, the importance of a core collection for conservation purposes is highlighted.</p></div>