Molecular markers and their applications in wheat breeding

In recent years, considerable emphasis has been placed on the development of molecular markers to be used for a variety of objectives. This review attempts to give an account of different molecular markers—restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), sequence-tagged sites (STS), DNA amplification fingerprinting (DAF), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and microsatellites (STMS)—currently available for genome mapping and for tagging different traits in wheat. Other markers, including microsatellite-primed polymerase chain reaction (MP-PCR), expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are also discussed. Recent information on synteny in cereal genomes, marker-assisted selection, marker validation and their relevance to cereal breeding in general and wheat breeding in particular are also examined.     

Microsatellite markers: an overview of the recent progress in plants

In recent years, molecular markers have been utilized for a variety of applications including examination of genetic relationships between individuals, mapping of useful genes, construction of linkage maps, marker assisted selections and backcrosses, population genetics and phylogenetic studies. Among the available molecular markers, microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) which are tandem repeats of one to six nucleotide long DNA motifs, have gained considerable importance in plant genetics and breeding owing to many desirable genetic attributes including hypervariability, multiallelic nature, codominant inheritance, reproducibility, relative abundance, extensive genome coverage including organellar genomes, chromosome specific location and amenability to automation and high throughput genotyping. High degree of allelic variation revealed by microsatellite markers results from variation in number of repeat-motifs at a locus caused by replication slippage and/or unequal crossing-over during meiosis. In spite of limited understanding of the functions of the SSR motifs within the plant genes, SSRs are being widely utilized in plant genome analysis. Microsatellites can be developed directly from genomic DNA libraries or from libraries enriched for specific microsatellites. Alternatively, microsatellites can also be found by searching public databases such as GenBank and EMBL or through cross-species transferability. At present, EST databases are an important source of candidate genes, as these can generate markers directly associated with a trait of interest and may be transferable in close relative genera. A large number of SSR based techniques have been developed and a quantum of literature has accumulated regarding the applicability of SSRs in plant genetics and genomics. In this review we discuss the recent developments (last 4–5 years) made in plant genetics using SSR markers.     

Molecular markers: It’s application in crop improvement

Over the past few decades, plant genomics research has been studied extensively bringing about a revolution in the field of plant biotechnology. Molecular markers, useful for plant genome analysis, have now become an important tool in crop improvement. The development and use of molecular markers for the detection and exploitation of DNA polymorphism is one of the most significant developments in the field of molecular genetics. The presence of various types of molecular markers, and differences in their principles, methodologies and applications require careful consideration in choosing one or more of such methods. No molecular markers are available yet that fulfill all requirements needed by researchers. In this article we attempt to review most of the available DNA markers that can be routinely employed in various aspects of plant genome analysis such as characterization of genetic variability, genome fingerprinting, genome mapping, gene localization, analysis of genome evolution, population genetics, taxonomy, plant breeding, and diagnostics. The emerging patterns make up a unique feature of the analyzed individual and are currently considered to be the ultimate tool for biological individualization.     

小麦EST-SSR标记的开发和染色体定位及其在追踪黑麦染色体中的应用

根据小麦盐胁迫诱导和茎秆组织相关EST序列开发了81对EST-SSR引物, 其中67、46、18和61对分别在小麦、黑麦、簇毛麦和大麦基因组中稳定扩增, 在不同小麦和大麦品种间具有多态性的引物分别有22和23对。利用小麦缺体-四体系共定位了43对引物的81个位点, 其中A、B和D染色体组上分别有29、30和22个位点, 涉及除4B、3D和6D外的18条染色体。此外30对引物在黑麦基因组中具有特异扩增, 其中8对分别在黑麦1R、4R、5R和R7染色体上具有特异扩增, 7对在多条黑麦染色体具有相同扩增。这些新标记可有效用于小麦及其近缘物种的遗传作图与比较遗传研究。     

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) polymorphism and its application in plant breeding

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR)-PCR is a technique, which involvesthe use of microsatellite sequences as primers in a polymerase chainreaction to generate multilocus markers. It is a simple and quick methodthat combines most of the advantages of microsatellites (SSRs) andamplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to the universality ofrandom amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). ISSR markers are highlypolymorphic and are useful in studies on genetic diversity, phylogeny, genetagging, genome mapping and evolutionary biology. This review providesan overview of the details of the technique and its application in geneticsand plant breeding in a wide range of crop plants.     

AFLP技术及其在干果遗传育种研究中的应用

AFLP（扩增片段长度多态性）是检测DNA多态性的一种高效的分子标记技术,该技术的运用不需要预知基因组的序列特征,可适用于任何来源和各种复杂度的DNA,兼具RFLP技术的可靠性和RAPD技术的方便性。近年来,AFLP技术已在干果遗传育种研究中得到广泛应用。本文对AFLP技术的基本原理和反应程序进行了介绍,综述了其在干果种质资源研究、遗传图谱构建、基因标记、分子辅助选择、基因表达等方面的应用,并对AFLP技术存在的问题及其在干果遗传育种研究上的应用前景进行了探讨。     

山东省玉米骨干自交系和杂交种的SSR指纹图谱构建

构建骨干品种（系）指纹图谱,可为新品种的审定和品种保护建立准确可靠的依据,也是适应玉米育种快速发展的需要。分别利用74对SSR引物对35份骨干自交系和19份主栽杂交种进行了SSR分析。筛选出10对和20对适于玉米自交系和杂交种分析的核心引物,分别检测出115和124个等位变异,将扩增条带数字化,构建了自交系和杂交种的指纹图谱,出现相同指纹图谱的概率分别为3.13×10-11和5.59×10-25。构建的指纹图谱用于玉米品种鉴定是可行的,对玉米新品种审定和品种权保护具有重要意义。     

DNA标记在植物品种鉴定上的应用现状

为了全面地了解DNA指纹在品种鉴定上的利用现状,更重要的是促进DNA指纹技术切实有效的应用于植物品种鉴定,本研究归纳了目前开发出的可用于植物品种鉴定的DNA指纹技术,指出已有的DNA指纹品种鉴定技术的优势与不足,总结了DNA指纹应用于品种鉴定的分析措施,并认为受限于缺乏可以将DNA指纹转化为植物鉴定信息的理想措施,所以DNA标记还未真正有效地应用于生产实践中,因此提出一种基于DNA指纹的人工绘制品种鉴定简图(MCID)法是很重要的,本研究也重点阐述了MCID法的实施过程。     

Development and characterization of a new set of 164 polymorphic EST‐SSR markers for diversity and breeding studies in rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.)

Despite its economic importance and recent genome release, the need for molecular tools for Hevea brasiliensis is high. In the frame of a disease resistance study, EST sequences were retrieved from public database or generated by sequencing SSH libraries. Sequences were trimmed and microsatellite motifs searched using an ad hoc bioinformatic pipeline, and pairs of primers for the amplification of candidate markers were generated. We found a total of 10 499 unigenes from both sources of sequences, and 673 microsatellites motifs were detected using the default parameters of the pipeline. Two hundred sixty‐four primer pairs were tested and 226 (85.6%) successfully amplified. Out of the amplified candidate markers, 164 exhibited polymorphism. Relationships based on dendrograms using simple matching index and diversity statistics based on EST‐SSRs were compared with Genomic SSRs, showing the potentialities of EST‐derived microsatellites for resistance studies but also for population genetics approaches.     

Molecular breeding in the genus Musa: a strong case for STMS marker technology

Musa species are among the tallest monocotyledons and include major food-producing species. The principal cultivars, derived from two major species Musa acuminata (‘A’ genome) and Musa balbisiana (‘B’ genome), are polyploid hybrids (mainly AAA, AAB and ABB triploids), medium to highly sterile, parthenocarpic and clonally propagated. Bananas and plantains are crops to which molecular breeding is expected to have a positive impact. In order to better understand banana genetics, more knowledge has to be accumulated about the complex genome structure of hybrids and cultivars. Therefore, the aim of our work is to develop molecular markers that are codominant, reliable, universal, highly polymorphic and that are applicable to collaborative Musa germplasm genotyping and mapping. Two size-selected genomic libraries have been screened for the presence of simple sequence repeats (SSR). Our data demonstrate that SSR are readily applicable to the study of Musa genetics. Our comprehensive analyses of a significant number of banana sequence tagged microsatellite sites (STMS) will add to our knowledge on the structure and phylogeny of genomes of the Musa species, and suggest that microsatellites be used as anchor markers for a banana genetic core map. Additional markers, such as e.g. CAPS have also been tested in order to increase the detection of polymorphisms exceeding that revealed by STMS technology. The utility of PCR-derived markers for collaborative genetic analyses of the banana genome, and the transferability of 'streamlined’ laboratory techniques and data analysis to Developing Countries are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cultivar identification and genetic fingerprinting of temperate fruit tree species using DNA markers

In recent years we have witnessed critical advances in the applications of molecular markers for genetic fingerprinting in cultivated plants. Their advantages have been widely recognised but they are even more important in woody perennials due to some particularities of these species such as their long generation time, their large individual size and their vegetative propagation. In this review, the information so far published in molecular fingerprinting of temperate fruit tree species using DNA markers is analysed with the goal of obtaining a common ground that will allow an easier and faster genetic identification that, at the same time, has to be reproducible among laboratories. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Molecular markers: actual and potential contributions to wheat genome characterization and breeding

The demands for increasing global crop production have prompted the development of new approaches relying on molecular marker technologies to investigate and improve the plant genome. The merits of molecular markers make them valuable tools in a range of research areas. This review describes novel approaches based on modern molecular marker technologies for characterization and utilization of genetic variation for wheat improvement. Large-scale genome characterization by DNA-fingerprinting has revealed no declining trends in the molecular genetic diversity in wheat as a consequence of modern intensive breeding thus opposing the genetic ‘erosion’ hypothesis. A great number of important major genes and quantitative trait loci have been mapped with molecular markers. Marker-assisted selection based on a tight linkage between a marker allele and a gene(s) governing a qualitative or quantitative trait is gaining considerable importance as it facilitates and accelerates cultivar improvement through precise transfer of chromosome regions carrying the gene of interest. The implementations of molecular markers in wheat genotyping, mapping and breeding complemented by specific approaches associated with the complex polyploid nature of common wheat are analyzed and presented.     

DNA指纹图谱技术及其在作物品种资源中的应用

随着各种新型DNA分子标记的出现,带动了DNA指纹图谱技术的快速发展。本文简要阐述了几种常见DNA指纹鉴定技术,如限制性片段长度多态性(restrictionfragmentlengthpolymorphism,简称RFLP)、随机扩增多态性DNA(randomamplifiedpolymorphicDNA,简称RAPD)、扩增片段长度多态性(am-plifiedfragmentlengthpolymorphism,简称AFLP)、简单重复序列或微卫星标记(simplesequencerepeat,简称SSR)、内部简单重复序列(inter-simplesequencerepeat,简称ISSR)和单核苷酸多态性(singlenucleotidepoly-morphisms,简称SNPs)等的基本原理、在技术上的优缺点及其在作物品种资源中的应用,包括品种的鉴定、纯度的检测、品种亲缘关系与分类的研究及品种专利权的正当维护等。同时,对DNA指纹图谱技术在应用中的存在问题及相应的解决途径进行了简单的讨论,如目前DNA的提取方法与育种应用的大规模群体不相适应和大多数DNA指纹图谱检测技术仍比较繁琐,限制了该技术在育种中的大规模应用等。     

Development and validation of class I SSR markers targeting (GATA) n repeat motifs in rice

SSR markers targeting (GATA) _n motifs are known to be highly polymorphic and useful in many organisms. (GATA) _n motif specific SSR markers covering the whole rice genome are not available. The present study was carried out with an objective to identify class I rice microsatellites in the rice genome with (GATA)_n motifs, in-silico, and validate their potential as molecular markers. A total of 243 such motifs were identified; 65 of these were present in the genic region, 59 were in the upstream region and the remaining motifs were found in the intergenic regions. Many of the (GATA) _n motifs were found within and/or upstream of genes associated with biotic or abiotic stress tolerance. A total of 230 PCR-based markers targeting all the class I (GATA) _n microsatellites were developed and 35 of these markers spread across the rice genome were validated in a set of 24 representative rice varieties belonging to five distinct cultivar groups. All the markers were polymorphic, with average polymorphism information content (PIC) value of 0.61, and the rice cultivars could be uniquely distinguished into different cultivar groups based on marker analysis. These informative markers targeting (GATA) _n motifs representing a new set of markers in rice will be highly useful for genetic studies and marker-assisted selection. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Passoupathy Rajendrakumar, Akshaya Kumar Biswal and Kannabiran Sakthivel contributed equally.     

Occurrence of microsatellites in spinach sequences from computer databases and development of polymorphic SSR markers

Microsatellites are valuable tools as molecular markers in plant breeding. To establish genetic linkage maps or for population studies, information about the occurrence and usability of microsatellite markers in different species is necessary. Sequences of spinach Spinacia oleracea from computer databases were therefore searched for the presence of microsatellites. Sixty simple sequence repeats were found in 237 spinach sequences with a total of 349.4 kb DNA. After removing duplicated sequences, 50 different microsatellites with various motifs remained. Differences between nuclear and chloroplast DNA were not in the number of microsatellites but in their type and length. Chloroplast sequences from spinach contain only short strings of A and AT repeats, whereas nuclear sequences show a wider variety of motifs. Flanking primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were designed for 13 of these microsatellites and tested with two different varieties of spinach. Twelve primer pairs gave amplification products and seven of these showed polymorphisms in the variety ‘Wiremona’ but only one in the variety ‘Monatol’. These markers may be used for linkage analysis or population studies in spinach.     

水稻分蘖相关性状的QTL定位与分析

应用147个SSR标记,对水稻测序品种日本晴(Nipponbare以下简称Nipp) ×广陆矮4号(部分测序,以下简称GLA)的F2群体进行基因检测,构建了全长为1736.6cM、覆盖水稻基因组12条染色体的连锁图,采用QTLCart1.7 统计软件对水稻分蘖相关性状如分蘖数、穗数、有效分蘖数、分蘖率等4个性状的基因座位进行定位分析,检测到5个主效果基因和17个微效基因,同时结合基因组研究的最新成果,对7个与标记间遗传距离为0(QTL POS=0)的QTLs进行生物信息学的分析,尝试用QTL定位预测基因的功能。     

小麦白粉病抗病基因分子标记开发及应用研究进展

选育和利用抗病品种是防治白粉病最经济、有效、安全的措施,优异抗白粉病基因资源的挖掘及其紧密连锁分子标记的开发是开展抗白粉病分子标记育种的基础。目前,国内外已命名了分布于16条染色体上的39个位点共55个白粉病抗病基因,其中30个已开发出分子标记,另外还发现数个与成株期抗性相关的数量性状位点。本文综述了国内外小麦白粉病抗病基因的定位、来源、分子标记开发、克隆,以及白粉病抗病基因的分子标记育种的最新研究进展,并分析了当前小麦抗白粉病育种存在的主要问题及解决建议。     

Assessment of EST- and genomic microsatellite markers for variety discrimination and genetic diversity studies in wheat

It is likely that in the near future sequence information from sequencing programmes and EST libraries will generate an abundance of genic microsatellite markers. This study is focused on the assessment of their likely impact and performance vis-à-vis their genomic counterparts. Microsatellites from two sources were used to assess the genetic diversity in 56 old and new varieties of bread wheat on the UK Recommended List. A set of 12 microsatellite markers generated from genomic libraries and 20 expressed sequence tag (EST)-derived microsatellites were used in the study, and the performance of both marker sets assessed. The EST-derived or genic microsatellites delivered fingerprints of superior quality, amplifying clear products with few stutter bands. Diversity levels as revealed bygenic microsatellites are similar to the few published results. The PIC values for the genic markers were generally lower than those calculated for the genomic microsatellites, though advantages of both marker classes for variety identification applications are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

分子标记技术在农作物品种鉴定上的研究进展及未来展望

概述了以AFLP、ISSR、SRAP以及SSR 等4 种主要的分子标记技术在农作物品种鉴定上的研究进展,提出了SSR将是未来利用分子标记技术鉴定品种纯度以及品种DUS测试的首选分子标记技术。同时介绍了在快速鉴定品种纯度上的研究进展,并预测未来利用互联网技术将分子标记指纹图谱和农作物品种形态学特征相结合实现品种快速检索、不同品种之间数字指纹比对以及比对信息快速输出以实现品种的快速鉴定,实现在农作物任何生长期均可达到快速鉴定品种纯度和真实性的目的,促进农作物品种权的保护以及中国种业的健康发展。     

Assessment of the uniformity and stability of grapevine cultivars using a set of microsatellite markers

Solidity of microsatellite markers is a key issue for varietal identification, especially when they are used for legal purposes, what includes their probable future use in the distinctness, uniformity and stability testing of new varieties needed for the granting of Plant Breeders’ Rights. Nine grapevine microsatellites (VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD27, VVMD28, ssrVrZAG29, ssrVrZAG62, ssrVrZAG67, ssrVrZAG83 and ssrVrZAG112), which had previously demonstrated its capacity to discriminate any grapevine variety, have been assessed to evaluate its uniformity and stability. 19 varieties were selected, representative of a high diversity for morphological, agronomical, cultural and historical aspects, as well as for microsatellite allele variability. Then, for each variety, uniformity and stability were evaluated through the analysis of 50 plants from each of three different plots, and five plants from each of seven additional plots. Material from 4,137 plants of 229 plots of the 19 varieties was sampled in seven countries. Of 3,654 plants analyzed with the set of nine microsatellites, 3,299 were of the right variety and used for the survey. An average of 172 individual values was studied for each allele of each microsatellite of each variety, and none differences were detected that could not be explained as technical variations, with the exception of several putative chimeras in two varieties. Of the total of 171 variety x microsatellite combinations, only in one combination (‘Merlot’ x VVMD27) the number of off-types exceeded the threshold allowed. The remaining 170 combinations have been found uniform and stable according to internationally accepted rules.