Allelic variation, sequence determination and microsatellite screening at the XGWM261 locus in Chinese hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties

Wheat microsatellite XGWM261, due to its closely linked to the dwarfing gene Rht8, has been adopted as the diagnostic molecular marker of Rht8. Screening 408 Chinese and 98 exotic varieties showed 13 allele variants in locus of XGWM261, with 6 alleles only to be found in Chinese varieties and 2 only in exotic varieties, respectively. Sequencing results of the 13 alleles revealed their absolute fragment sizes with 216, 212, 210, 206, 204, 202, 200, 196, 194, 192, 190, 174, and 164 bp, respectively. Allelic distribution analysis showed that the 204, 192, 174, and 164 bp alleles were prevailing in Chinese varieties, and the diagnostic 192 bp allele to Rht8 had a very high percentage in the Yellow and Huai River Valleys Facultative Wheat Zone than in the Northern Winter Wheat Zone in China. The GT → AC substitution at position 35 was found in 216, 200, and 174 bp alleles. Moreover, the AG insertion immediately at the end of CT-repeat region was also found in 216, 200, 174, and 164 bp alleles.