Development of Sequence-characterized DNA Markers Linked to Temperature Insensitivity for Fruit Production in Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) Cultivars

In this paper, we characterize a temperature dependence in longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) cultivars using the high annealing temperature random‐amplified polymorphic DNA (HAT‐RAPD) methodology. This form of genomic analysis allows a random sampling of the complete genome to provide information about phenotypic traits of interest. Using a set of 18 unique decamer primers, polymorphic bands ranging from 100 to 2500 bp were examined for 14 longan varieties from which banding patterns of interest were selected for conversion to the more reproducible and robust sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. In particular, one SCAR marker produced an electrophoresis banding pattern which could distinguish between longan varieties requiring a sustained interval at low temperatures for fruit production vs. those that do not. This band was composed of a nucleotide region 275 bases in length (DQ539047) in which the initial 90 nucleotides were >85 % identical to the 12‐oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA) reductase gene. OPDA is an immediate precursor to jasmonic acid which has been described as the ‘master switch’ for lipid‐derived environmental signalling to factors such as flowering and osmotic stress. The possible involvement of the jamonic acid signalling pathway could explain the recent success of potassium chlorate to induce off‐season flowering and fruit formation.     

Identification of AFLP fragments linked to seedlessness in Ponkan mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and conversion to SCAR markers

Seedlessness is a desirable trait in citrus and has been an important breeding objective. In this study, we employed the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique to find molecular markers linked to the seedless trait in the Ponkan mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco). After screening with 72 primer pairs, 5 AFLP markers were identified that putatively correlated with the target trait. Their association was also tested by analyzing the AFLP profile from pooled individual accessions. The five fragments were cloned and sequenced, and BLAST searches showed that four of the markers had high homology to functional genes, providing some promising information that may aid in understanding the molecular mechanism of seedlessness in citrus. Based on the sequence information, eight specific primers were designed and eventually fragments AFLP-2 and AFLP-5 were successfully converted into sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. Thus, the markers detected could be useful for accelerating citrus breeding programmes by enabling early screening for seedlessness mutations using marker-assisted selection.     

与黄瓜感花叶病毒病基因连锁的分子标记

本研究以黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)高感黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV)和高抗CMV亲本组合(HZL04-1×F-3)的F2分离群体为试材,采用极端个体分组法和AFLP技术筛选与黄瓜抗CMV基因连锁的分子标记.AFLP引物组合E22M88在抗病组和感病组间约200 bp处表现多态性.经F2单株分析,在感病亲本和感病单株中扩增出了约为200 bp的特异片段,而抗病亲本和抗病个体无此条带.该特异标记与CMV抗性基因相连锁,遗传距离为9.74 cM.测序结果显示,目标片段的大小为202 bp,并将该标记转换为了序列特征化扩增区域(SCAR)标记.提供了黄瓜材料CMV抗性鉴定的分子方法和手段,可用于分子标记辅助育种.     

利用多元回归分析鉴定与白桦纤维长度性状相关的分子标记

通过对天然白桦群体583株个体纤维长度测定，选取其中有代表性的100株个体，利用随机扩增多态性DNA标记（random amplification polymorphism DNA，RAPD）技术对其基因组差异分析，通过扩增条带与性状表现间的多元回归分析，筛选出与白桦纤维长度显著相关的分子标记。经过20个RAPD引物筛选，有6个引物的7个片段与纤维长度显著相关，其中片段“BFL”与纤维长度的相关系数为0．401，相关性达到5％的显著水平。对此片段进行克隆、测序后，成功转化成与长纤维性状相关的序列特征化扩增区域（sequence characterized amplified region,SCAR）标记，此标记对长纤维白桦的鉴定效率达80％。     

Identification of PCR-based markers linked to the powdery-mildew-resistance gene Pl1 from Malus robusta in cultivated apple

The availability of molecular markers linked to mildew resistance genes would enhance the efficiency of apple-breeding programmes. This investigation focuses on the identification of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to the Pl₁ gene for mildew resistance, which has introgressed from Malus robusta into cultivated apples. The RAPD marker technique was combined with a modified ‘bulked seg-regant analysis’ mapping strategy. About 850 random decamer primers used as single primers or in combinations were tested by PCR analysis on the basis of resistant and susceptible DNA pools. Selected primers producing RAPD fragments were applied in an additional selection step to M. robusta and genotypes representing intermediate breeding stages of the breeding population 93/9, for which a 1:1 segregation could be observed for the resistance trait. Seven RAPD markers, all representing introgressed DNA sequences from M. robusta, were identified and arranged with the Pl₁ locus in a common linkage group. The two most tightly-linked RAPD markers, OPAT20₄₅₀ and OPD2₁₀₀₀ were mapped with a genetic distance of 4.5 and 5 cM, respectively, from the Pl₁ gene. Both markers are suitable for marker-assisted selection in apple breeding. The polymorphic DNA fragment OPAT20₄₅₀ was cloned and sequenced, and longer primers for the generation of a sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker have been constructed; this marker was easier to score than the original RAPD marker.     

Development of SCAR markers linked to a scald resistance gene derived from wild barley

The F₂ progeny of a third backcross(BC₃) line, BC line 240, derived from a Turkish accession of wild barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum),segregated for resistance to scald (Rhynchosporium secalis) in a manner indicating the presence of a single dominant resistance gene. Two SCAR marker slinked to this resistance were developed from AFLP markers. Screens of disomic and ditelosomic wheat-barley addition lines with the SCAR markers demonstrated that the scald resistance gene is located in the centromeric region of barley chromosome 3H,a region previously reported to contain a major scald resistance locus, Rrs1. Markers that flank the Rrs1 locus were used to screen the wild barley-derivedBC₃F₂ population. These markers also flank the wild barley-derived scald resistance, indicating that it maps to the same locus as Rrs1; it may beallelic, or a separate gene within a complex locus. However, BC line 240 does not respond to treatment with the Rhynchosporium secalis avirulence factorNIP1 in the same way as the Rrs1-carrying cultivar Atlas46. This suggests that the scald resistance gene derived from wild barley confers a different specificity of response to theRrs1 allele in Atlas46.In order to increase the durability of scald resistance in the field, we suggest that at least two scald resistances should be combined into barley cultivars before release. The scald resistance gene described here will be of value in the Australian environment, and the several markers linked to it will facilitate pyramiding. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Development of SCAR markers linked to the Ns locus in potato

A random amplified polymorphic DNA marker OPG17₄₅₀ linked to the Ns gene that confers resistance of potato to potato virus S (PVS), was used to develop sequence‐characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. After cloning and sequencing of OPG17₄₅₀ new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed to generate dominant (SCG17₃₂₁) and codominant (SCG17₄₄₈) markers. For SCG17₄₄₈, polymorphism between susceptible and resistant genotypes was recovered after digestion of the marker with the restriction enzyme Muni. In addition to the band corresponding to ‘susceptible’ allele that does not contain the Muni cleavage site, two bands of approximately 251 bp and 197 bp were observed in the resistant genotypes. The usefulness of these SCAR markers was verified in diploid potatoes possessing the Ns locus from clone G‐LKS 678147/60, and in tetraploid potatoes derived from G‐LKS 678147/60 and from clone MPI 65118/3.     

RAPD and SCAR markers linked to the sex expression locus M in asparagus

Bulk segregant analysis (BSA), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) methods were used to map molecular markers to the sex locus M of asparagus. Two parents, A19 (male, Mm) and MW25 (female, mm), and 63 progeny were used for the study. Two DNA bulks, one male and one female, were made by pooling equal amounts of DNA from 10 randomly selected progeny of each sex type. A total of 760 arbitrary decamer oligonucleotide primers were used for RAPD analysis. Primer OPC15 produced two RAPD markers, OPC15-98 and OPC15-30, both of which were linked to the M locus at a distance of 1.6 cM. Subsequently, amplified RAPD fragment OPC15-98 was cloned and sequenced. The sequence was then used to design flanking 24-mer oligonucleotide SCAR primers SCC15-1 and SCC15-2. Both of these SCAR primers amplified a single 980 bp fragment; the same size as the cloned RAPD fragment. However, the SCAR marker was dominant as was the original OPC15-98 band from which it was derived. These RAPD and SCAR markers could be used for scoring male and female progeny in the mapping population, but were not found to be applicable to other asparagus germplasm studied. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inheritance of resistance to angular leaf spot in common bean and validation of the utility of resistance linked markers for marker assisted selection out side the mapping population

Inheritance of resistance to angular leaf spot (ALS) disease caused by Phaeoisariopsis griseola (Sacc.) Ferr was investigated in two common bean cultivars, Mexico 54 and BAT 332. Both Andean and Mesoamerican backgrounds were used to determine the stability of the resistance gene in each of the two cultivars. Resistance to P. griseola was phenotypically evaluated by artificial inoculation with one of the most widely distributed pathotypes, 63–39. Evaluation of the parental genotypes, F₁, F₂ and backcross populations revealed that the resistance to angular leaf spot in the cultivars Mexico 54 and BAT 332 to pathotype 63–39 is controlled by a single dominant gene, when both the Andean and Mesoamerican backgrounds were used. Allelism test showed that ALS resistance in Mexico 54 and BAT 332 to pathotype 63–39 was conditioned by the same resistance locus. Resistant and susceptible segregating populations generated using Mexico 54 resistant parent were selected for DNA extraction and amplification to check for the presence /absence of the SCAR OPN02 and RAPD OPE04 markers linked to the Phg-2 resistance gene. The results indicated that the SCAR OPN02 was not polymorphic in the study populations and therefore of limited application in selecting resistant genotypes in such populations. On the other hand, the RAPD OPE04 marker was observed in all resistant individuals and was absent in those scored susceptible based on virulence data. Use of the RAPD OPE04 marker in marker-assisted selection is underway.     

Identification of AFLP fragments linked to one recessive genic male sterility (RGMS) in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and conversion to SCAR markers for marker-aided selection

117AB is a recessive genic male sterility (RGMS) line in which the sterility is controlled by a duplicate recessive gene named ms, located at two separate loci. In the RGMS line, the genotype of the sterile plant (117A) is msmsmsms, and that of the fertile plant (117B) is Msmsmsms. The present study was aimed to identify DNA markers linked to the ms locus by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). From the survey of 512 AFLP primer combinations, 6 AFLP fragments (y1, k1, k2, k3, k4, k5) were identified as being tightly linked to the Ms locus. The genetic distances between the markers and the Ms locus were all less than 8 cM, among which two fragments, designated as k2 and k3, co-segregated with the target gene in the tested population. Fragment k2 was successfully converted into a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker. The markers detected could be valuable in marker-assisted breeding of RGMS in Brassica napus.