Assessment of molecular markers and marker-assisted selection for drought tolerance in barley(Hordeum vulgare L.)

This review updates the present status of the field of molecular markers and marker-assisted selection(MAS),using the example of drought tolerance in barley.The accuracy of selected quantitative trait loci(QTLs),candidate genes and suggested markers was assessed in the barley genome cv.Morex.Six common strategies are described for molecular marker development,candidate gene identification and verification,and their possible applications in MAS to improve the grain yield and yield components in barley under drought stress.These strategies are based on the following five principles:(1)Molecular markers are designated as genomic‘tags’,and their‘prediction’is strongly dependent on their distance from a candidate gene on genetic or physical maps;(2)plants react differently under favourable and stressful conditions or depending on their stage of development;(3)each candidate gene must be verified by confirming its expression in the relevant conditions,e.g.,drought;(4)the molecular marker identified must be validated for MAS for tolerance to drought stress and improved grain yield;and(5)the small number of molecular markers realized for MAS in breeding,from among the many studies targeting candidate genes,can be explained by the complex nature of drought stress,and multiple stress-responsive genes in each barley genotype that are expressed differentially depending on many other factors.

Molecular Marker Assisted Selection for Fusarium Wilt Resistance Breeding in Watermelon(Citrullus lanatus)

Molecular identification on diploid and tetraploid watermelon breeding lines which were resistant to Fusarium wilt was carried out with the published dCAPS marker ＂4451_fon＂ which was closely linked with resistance gene of Fusarium wilt race 1. The results showed that all the diploid and tetraploid lines expressed as re- sistant genotype, which were defined as Fusarium wilt-resistant materials. The re- sults were consistent with that of artificial inoculation identification. Molecular identifi- cation results also indicated that the resistant lines were homozygote, and the Fusarium wilt-resistant gene would not separate or lose during the future self- crossed purification. Therefore, resistance selection would not be necessary in their progeny populations. The study results thought that dCAPS marker ＂4451_fon＂ could be applied on molecular marker assisted selection for Fusarium wilt resistance breeding in watermelon to increase breeding selection efficiency and accelerate breeding progress.

Molecular Marker Assisted Selection for Yield-Enhancing Genes in the Progeny of Minghui63 x O. rufipogon

Two yield-enhancing genes (yld1.1 and yld2.1) are located on chromosomes 1 and 2 respectivelyin a weedy relative of cultivated rice, Oryza rufipogon. SSR markers RM9 and RM166 are closelylinked with the two loci respectively. Minghui63 (MH63) has been a widely used restorationline in hybrid rice production in China during the past two decades. The F1 of cross 'MH63O.rufipogon' was backcrossed with MH63 generation by generation. RM9 and RM166 were used toselect the plants from the progeny of the backcross populations. The results were as follows:(1) In BC2F1 population, the percentage of the individuals which have RM9 and RM166 amplifiedbands simultaneously was 12.2%, while in the BC3F1 population, that was 16.3%. (2) Among 400individuals of BC3F1, four yield-promising plants were obtained, with yield being 30% more thanthat of MH63. (3) The products amplified by primer RM166 in O. rufipogon and MH63 weresequenced. It was found that the DNA fragment sequence amplified by RM166 from MH63 was 101 bpshorter than that from O. rufipogon. The 101bp sequence is a part of an intron of the PCNA(proliferating cell nuclear antigen) gene.

Breeding Rice Restorer Lines with High Resistance to Bacterial Blight by Using Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection

Two bacterial blight （BB） resistance genes, Xa21 and Xa4, from IRBB24 were introduced into hybrid rice restorer line Mianhui 725, which is highly susceptible to BB, by using hybridization and molecular marker-assisted selection technology. Four homologous restorer lines were obtained through testing the R target genes with molecular markers and analyzing parental genetic background. Inoculation of the four lines and their hybrids with the specific strains of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, P1, P6 and seven representative strains of Chinese pathotype, C Ⅰ -CⅦ, showed that all of the four lines and their hybrids were highly resistant and presented broad resistance-spectrum to BB. The hybrids of G46A / R207-2 displayed good agronomic characters and high yield potential, and R207-2 was named Shuhui 207.

Improving Blast Resistance of a Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile Rice Line GD-8S by Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection

The broad-spectrum blast resistance gene Pi-1, from donor line BL122, was introduced into a thermo-sensitive genic male sterile rice line GD-8S, which possessed good grain quality but high susceptibility to rice blast, by using backcross breeding and molecular marker-assisted selection. Five elite improved male sterile lines, RGD8S-1, RGD8S-2, RGD8S-3, RGD8S-4 and RGD8S-5, were selected based on the results of molecular marker analysis, spikelet sterility, recovery rate of genetic background and agronomic traits. Thirty-three representative blast isolates collected from Guangdong Province, China were used to inoculate the improved lines and the original line GD-8S artificially. The resistance frequencies of the improved lines ranged from 76.47% to 100%, much higher than that of the original line GD-8S （9.09%）. On the agronomic characters, there were no significant differences between the improved lines and GD-8S except for flag leaf length and panicle number per plant. The improved lines could be used for breeding hybrid rice with high blast resistance.

Lowering Grain Amylose Content in Backcross Offsprings of indica Rice Variety 057 by Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection

To lower the amylose content （AC） of the indica rice restorer line 057 with high AC, backcrosses were made respectively by using four indica varieties （R367, 91499, Yanhui 559, Hui 527） as low AC donor parents and 057 as the recurrent parent. A molecular marker （PCR-Acc Ⅰ） was used to identify the genotypes （GG, TT and GT） of the waxy （Wx） gene. Plants with GT genotype were selected and used as female parent and crossed with 057 to advance generation. The ACs of rice grains harvested from plants with different Wx genotypes were measured and compared to analyze the efficiency of marker-assisted selection. The ACs of the rice grain, harvested from the plants of Wx genotypes GG, GT and TT, were higher than 20%, in the range of 17.7-28.5%, and less than 18%, respectively. The PCR-Acc Ⅰ marker could be used for efficiently lowering the AC of 057 through backcrossing, and there were some influence of parental genetic background on the AC of rice grains with the same Wx genotype.

Inheritance of Clubroot Resistance of Miniature Chinese Baby Cabbage and Molecular Markers-assisted Selection

[Objective] The paper was to analyze the inheritance of clubroot resistance of miniature Chinese baby cabbage,to shorten identification time and to improve breeding efficacy of new disease-resistant varieties. [Method] Taking clubroot-resistant Chinese cabbage CCR001,disease-susceptible baby cabbage CM002,and their F_1,F_2 and BC_1 offspring as the research objects,the inheritance of clubroot resistance of baby cabbage was studied. [Result]The clubroot-resistance of baby cabbage was controlled by a single dominant gene,which conformed to Mendel＇s Laws of inheritance. The molecular markers-assisted selection combing with bacterial soil inoculation confirmed that the disease-resistance indeed passed on from the parents,and was inherited in F_1 and F_2. [Conclusion]It is feasible to breed clubroot-resistant baby cabbage by using molecular markers-assisted selection.

SCAR Markers Assisted Selection for a Bentazon Susceptible Lethality Gene (ben) in Rice

In progenies resulting from crosses involving rice cultivar Norin 8m susceptible to bentazon as the donor of ben gene, SCARs tightly linked to ben were utilized for selection of ben. The homozygous and heterozygous genotypes with ben could be identified with the SCARs. The molecular markers offer a powerful tool for indirect selection of ben and can accelerate the introgression of ben into current rice cultivars.

Application of Molecular Markers Linking to Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Loci to Assist Maintainer Line Selection and Their Selection Efficiency in Welsh Onion (Allium fistulosum L.)

Cytoplasmic male sterility exists widely in most natural populations of welsh onion （Alliumfistulosum L.）, which makes it possible to breed out many male sterile lines for heterosis utilization. Unfortunately, the breeding of cytoplasmic male sterility in welsh onion has a little progress due to the limitation of its biological characteristic and traditional selection approach. To study the feasibility and the efficiency of utilizing marker assisted selection for male sterile lines in welsh onion, one SCAR marker, SCS13, and one RAPD marker, S2002400, which could distinguish between N and S cytoplasm in several welsh onion cultivars, were identified. The two markers were then confirmed by Southern blotting, and used to screen the N or S cytoplasm of individual plants in seven welsh onion cultivars in this study. Male sterile and fertile plants were evaluated by aceto-carmine dying. The frequency of N-cytoplasmic plants and maintainer genotype was calculated in the seven open populations of welsh onion. The minimum number of plants needed to identify a maintainer was evaluated to be 95% reliable. Results showed that 20 to 80% decrease of crosses and self-crosses for identifying a maintainer genotype could be achieved by the marker-assisted selection compared with traditional selection method. It was proved that the molecular markers could precisely identify cytoplasmic types individually, performed by one generation of cross and two generations of testcrosses and self-crosses. Finally, several maintainer genotype plants were selected with the help of the two markers in the seven cultivars. The screened markers could assist and accelerate sterile and maintainer lines selection with less labor and cost.

Pyramiding Breeding by Marker-Assisted Recurrent Selection in Upland Cotton: Selected Effects on Resistance to Helicoverpa armigera

The coincidence rates were more than 96% among the instar-weighted average of bioassaysin the lab, the percentage of resistance to Km in the field and the percentage of plantscontaining Bt gene. So, the performance of resistance to Km in the field can be used torepresent the transgenic Bt gene for selecting the resistance to bollworm. The instar-weighted averages were 30.585, 24.182, 16.615, 10.601, 10.123, 7.440 and 7.215 for theC0, P1, M1, M2, MP1, P2 and MP2 populations, respectively. The variance analysisindicated that the instar-weighted average in C0 was greatly significantly higher thanthat in all other populations, i.e., the performance of resistance to bollworm in C0 washighly significantly lower than all other populations. And the resistance in P1 wasgreatly lower than that of M1, M2, MP1, P2 and MP2, and M1 greatly lower than that of M2,MP1, P2 and MP2. There were no significant differences among M2, MP1, P2 and MP2. Withinthe populations of the first cycle selection, MP1 and M1 were greatly significantlyhigher than P1, and MP1 significantly higher than M1. The populations of the second cycleselection were significantly higher than their initial population M1, but no significantdifference among them. The boll size, seed index, the percent of the first harvest yield,fiber length, strength and elongation of the resistant plants to bollworm were significantlylower than that of sensitive plants to bollworm. And the yield of seed and lint cottonof the resistant plant to bollworm were lower than that of the sensitive to bollworm, butno significant difference between them. The boll numbers per plant, lint percent andmicronaire of the resistant plants to bollworm were significantly higher than that of thesensitive plant to bollworm.

A Co-Dominant Marker BoE332 Applied to Marker-Assisted Selection of Homozygous Male-Sterile Plants in Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var.capitata L.)

The dominant genic male sterility （DGMS） gene CDMs399-3 derived from a spontaneous mutation in the line 79-399-3 of spring cabbage （Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.）, has been successfully applied in hybrid seed production of several cabbage cultivars in China. During the development of dominant male sterility lines in cabbage, the conventional identification of homozygous male-sterile plants （CDMs399-3/CDMs399-3） is a laborious and time-consuming process. For marker-assisted selection （MAS） of the gene CDMs399-3 transferred into key spring cabbage line 397, expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats （EST-SSR） and SSR technology were used to identify markers that were linked to CDMs399-3 based on method of bulked segregant analysis （BSA）. By screening a set of 978 EST-SSRs and 395 SSRs, a marker BoE332 linked to the CDMs399-3 at a distance of 3.6 cM in the genetic background of cabbage line 397 were identified. 7 homozygons male-sterile plants in population P1170 with 20 plants were obtained finally via MAS of BoE332. Thus, BoE332 will greatly facilitate the transferring of the gene CDMs399-3 into the key spring cabbage line 397 and improve the application of DGMS in cabbage hybrid breeding.

Breeding of Maintainer Line and Sterile Line Brown Planthopper Resistant Rice Using Marker-assisted Selection

Guangxi common wild rice variety brown planthopper highly resistant introgression line HS204 was taken as antigen donor material,hybridization,backcrossing,and molecular marker-assisted selection methods were adopted,to select maintainer line and sterile line materials,so as to provide excellent material foundation for resistance breeding of hybrid rice. Through the marker-assisted selection,it obtained 4 pieces of homozygous resistance gene maintainer line intermediate materials( 100B,101B,102B and 103B),and 2 pieces of resistant sterile line materials( 100A and 103A). All 10 combinations that have testcross with highly resistant sterile 100A showed higher level of brown planthopper resistance: 100A/R2586,100A/KR838,and 100A/KR527 had high resistance level,the others had low to intermediate resistance;100A/KR527,100A/R2586,100A/Minghui 63,100A/Fuhui 838 and 100A/Gui 99 combinations had yield per plant significantly higher than the control group( Teyou 7118),increasing by 14. 45%-49. 26%. The obtained resistant lines are expected to provide a better gene source for the breeding of resistant sterile lines of hybrid rice and the obtained resistant sterile lines can be directly used in the selection of three-line hybrid rice.

MAS技术在大豆种质资源创制中的应用综述

分子标记辅助选择育种(MAS)技术利用分子标记与目标性状基因紧密连锁的特点,通过检测分子标记,即可检测到目的基因的存在,达到选择目标性状的目的,具有快速、准确、不受环境条件干扰的优点。本文在总结大豆育种技术研究进展的基础上,着重介绍了MAS技术在大豆种质创制中的应用,并对其发展前景进行了展望,以期为促进大豆MAS技术的发展提供借鉴。

Identification of Molecular Markers for a Aphid Resistance Gene in Sorghum and Selective Efficiency Using These Markers

In this study, an F2 segregated population obtained by hybridization between the aphid-sensitive sorghum strain Qiansan and aphid-resistant cultivar Henong 16 was used to establish an aphid-resistant pool and an aphid-sensitive pool. 192 pairs of AFLP （amplified fragment length polymorphism） marker primers were screened in these pools using BSA （bulked segregant analysis）. Three pairs of EcoR I-CTG/Mse I-CCT, EcoR I-CTG/Mse I-CAT, and EcoR I-AGT/Mse I-CCC showed linkage with aphis resistance. EcoR I-CTG/Mse I-CCT-475, EcoR I-CTG/Mse I-CAT-390, and EcoR I-AGT/Mse I-CCC- 350 （E42/M52-350） were mapped within 6, 10, and 13 cM distances with the aphid-resistant gene by using Mapmaker 3.0 software. The bands amplified by EcoR I-CTG/Mse I-CCT-475 and EcoR I-CTG/Mse I-CAT-390 were extracted, cloned, and sequenced. Specific primers of SCAR （sequence characterized amplified regions） were then designed from these bands. A specific band of 300 bp was amplified by a pair of SCAR primers designed based on the sequence obtained from the EcoR I-CTG/Mse I-CAT-390 marker. The SCAR marker was named SCAS0. The marker was used to detect the F2, BC1, and F2：3 populations. The selective efficiency was 86.8, 91.1, and 86.3% in the BC1, F2, and F2：3 populations, respectively. The average selective efficiency was 88.2%.

基于MAS技术对水稻保持系软华B稻瘟病抗性的分子改良

为选育优质抗稻瘟病保持系软华B,以携带稻瘟病抗性基因Pi46和Pi2的优质籼稻H281作为供体亲本、以软华B为轮回亲本,利用分子标记辅助选择(MAS)技术结合系谱选育法,聚合2个外源基因以改良保持系软华B。对性状稳定的改良株系进行稻瘟病抗性鉴定、稻米品质分析等。通过回交及多代自交,并结合分子标记检测,获得以软华B为遗传背景且含有2个纯合目标基因的BC_(1)F_(6)群体2个、BC_(2)F_(5)群体2个、BC_(3)F_(4)群体2个。田间自然诱发鉴定结果表明,不同回交世代改良材料在自然病圃均抗稻瘟病;育性鉴定结果显示,回交世代对不育系的不育度为52.7%~100.0%;农艺性状考查及米质分析表明,改良株系基本保留了软华B的主要农艺性状和稻米品质特性。SNP基因芯片分析结果显示,BC_(1)F_(6)的背景回复率为74.42%~77.77%,BC_(2)F_(5)的背景回复率为86.42%~87.75%,BC_(3)F_(4)的背景回复率为92.27%~92.59%。利用连续回交、自交和分子标记辅助选择等技术可有效聚合多个抗性基因,获得抗稻瘟病的新保持系,快速实现保持系软华B的分子改良,为选育抗病、优质的杂交稻组合提供良好的亲本材料。

Rice molecular markers and genetic mapping:Current status and prospects

Dramatic changes in climatic conditions that supplement the biotic and abiotic stresses pose severe threat to the sustainable rice production and have made it a difficult task for rice molecular breeders to enhance production and productivity under these stress factors. The main focus of rice molecular breeders is to understand the fundamentals of molecular pathways involved in complex agronomic traits to increase the yield. The availability of complete rice genome sequence and recent improvements in rice genomics research has made it possible to detect and map accurately a large number of genes by using linkage to DNA markers. Linkage mapping is an effective approach to identify the genetic markers which are co-segregating with target traits within the family. The ideas of genetic diversity, quantitative trait locus（QTL） mapping, and marker-assisted selection（MAS） are evolving into more efficient concepts of linkage disequilibrium（LD） also called association mapping and genomic selection（GS）, respectively. The use of cost-effective DNA markers derived from the fine mapped position of the genes for important agronomic traits will provide opportunities for breeders to develop high-yielding, stress-resistant, and better quality rice cultivars. Here we focus on the progress of molecular marker technologies, their application in genetic mapping and evolution of association mapping techniques in rice.

Low-Cost Strategies for Development of Molecular Markers Linked to Agronomic Traits in<i>Prunus</i>

Evaluation of agronomic traits in Prunus breeding programs is a tedious process because of the long juvenile period of trees, the influence of juvenility and the existence of climatic factors affecting the expression of the trait. For these reasons, marker-assisted selection (MAS) strategies are particularly useful in these cases. The objective of this work is the analysis of alternative low- cost strategies for development of molecular markers linked to agronomic traits in Prunus including the application of modified Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) using Simple sequence repeat (SSRs) markers and the application of Random amplified polymorphism microsatellite (RAMP) markers. First BSA results showed that two SSR loci were found to be tightly linked to flowering time in almond. On the other hand, RAMP analysis has been demonstrated to be a potentially valuable molecular marker for the study of genetic relationships in Prunus. Results showed the dominant nature of these markers with a great abundance and transferability although with a reduced polymorphism. In addition, RAMP application in F1 progenies showed its suitability for molecular characterization and mapping, and later Quantitative trait loci (QTL) or BSA analysis.

利用分子标记辅助选择育种(MAS)技术改良水稻恢复系粤恢826

【目的】改良杂交稻恢复系粤恢826,以提高其稻瘟病和白叶枯病抗性,改良米质,为选育抗病、优质的杂交稻组合提供良好亲本材料。【方法】以含稻瘟病抗性基因Pi1和Pi2、白叶枯病抗病基因Xa23及蜡质基因Wx的中间材料Z1103为供体亲本,杂交水稻强恢复系粤恢826为受体亲本,利用分子标记辅助选择(MAS)技术和系谱选育方法,聚合4个外源基因以改良粤恢826的抗病性和米质,并进行稻瘟病和白叶枯病抗性及米质鉴定。【结果】经SSR分子标记检测、田间抗病性及米质鉴定,获得以粤恢826为遗传背景且含有目标基因的6个改良株系,通过农艺性状筛选与恢复力测试,优选到一个含有Pi1、Xa23和Wx基因的纯合株系,其恢复力好,农艺性状优良,2014年早造定名为粤恢88,其田间鉴定稻瘟病抗性3级,白叶枯病抗性1级,米质为软米。2014年晚造与两系不育系Y58S配制杂交稻组合Y两优88,其在品比试验中产量达6543 kg/ha,比对照深两优58香油占增产4.97%,未达显著水平(P>0.05),且抗稻瘟病,中抗白叶枯病,米质鉴定为国优3级和省优3级。【结论】MAS技术可有效聚合多基因(Pi1、Xa23和Wx基因),使粤恢826的稻瘟病和白叶枯病抗性及米质明显改良,获得抗稻瘟病、高抗白叶枯病、米质为软米的新恢复系粤恢88,为选育抗病优质的杂交稻组合提供良好亲本材料。

利用回交和MAS技术改良珍汕97B的白叶枯病抗性

以IRBB21为白叶枯抗病基因的供体亲本,珍汕97B为受体亲本,通过1次杂交、3次回交、1次自交,采用传统的回交育种和分子标记辅助选择技术相结合的方法获得了6个导入Xa21的珍汕97B导入系,其遗传背景恢复比例为92.8%-97.4%(平均为94.9%).

利用MAS技术培育水稻多抗、优质强恢复系桂恢663

【目的】培育新的兼抗稻瘟病、白叶枯病和细菌性条斑病,且米质较优的水稻强恢复系,为选育抗病、高产、优质的杂交稻组合提供良好的亲本材料。【方法】以抗稻瘟病品种合丰占为母本,与抗白叶枯病品系粤泰占杂交,通过分子标记辅助选择(MAS),获得多个抗病基因聚合的优良单株,再经过多代自交选育,并进行田间抗性及米质鉴定、农艺性状考察及恢复力测试。【结果】培育出聚合了抗稻瘟病基因Pi-ta、Pib、Pi54和抗白叶枯病兼抗细条病基因xa5的多抗、优质强恢复系桂恢663。桂恢663对白叶枯Ⅳ型菌和强毒Ⅴ型菌表现为抗,对广西细条病优势菌株JZ-8表现为抗,对14个稻瘟病菌株,有12个达到1级抗性。桂恢663除直链淀粉含量偏低外,其余6个主要米质指标均达到国标2级标准,其与丰田1A所配抗病、高产、优质组合丰田优663通过广西品种审定。桂恢663和丰田优663谷粒具有香味。【结论】桂恢663兼抗稻瘟病、白叶枯病和细条病,且恢复力强、米质较优具有香味,是组配抗病、高产、优质杂交组合的优良亲本,同时为水稻提供重要遗传基础材料。