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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mapping of powdery mildew resistance genes transferred to common wheat from wild emmer wheat revealed three functional Pm60 haplotypes

Powdery mildew(PM),caused by Blumeria graminis f.sp.tritici(Bgt),is one of the destructive wheat diseases worldwide.Wild emmer wheat(Triticum turgidum ssp.dicoccoides,WEW),a tetraploid progenitor of common wheat,is a valuable genetic resource for wheat disease resistance breeding programs.We developed three hexaploid pre-breeding lines with PM resistance genes derived from three WEW accessions.These resistant pre-breeding lines were crossed with susceptible common wheat accessions.Segregations in the F2populations were 3 resistant:1 susceptible,suggesting a single dominant allele in each resistant parent.Mapping of the resistance gene in each line indicated a single locus on the long arm of chromosome 7A,at the approximate location of previously cloned Pm60 from T.urartu.Sanger sequencing revealed three different Pm60 haplotypes(Hap 3,Hap 5,and Hap 6).Co-segregating diagnostic markers were developed for identification and selection of each haplotype.The resistance function of each haplotype was verified by the virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS).Common wheat lines carrying each of these Pm60 haplotypes were resistant to most Bgt isolates and differences in the response arrays suggested allelic variation in response.

Study on Marker-assisted Breeding of Soybean Vitamin E

Hefeng 25 variety with low vitamin E content in Heilongjiang Province and Bayfield variety with high vitamin E content in Canada were crossed.A total of 144 F_(2:7) recombinant inbred lines(RILs)were used as materials.The genetic linkage mapping of soybean vitamin E was constructed.Soybean varieties were marker-assisted selected in the interval of refined quantitative trait locus(QTLs).QTLs were identified in α-,γ-,δ-and the total tocopherol contents of soybean seeds.Fine QTLs of soybean vitamin E content were identified in the interval between Sat_239 and Satt022 on N linkage group.It was valuable to narrow the interval by marker-assisted selection(MAS).There were seven major QTLs of vitamin E content in soybean.MAS related to vitamin E content in soybean was carried out in the intervals between Sat_239 and Satt022.Considering all the kinds of agronomic traits,six strains with high yield and good quality of vitamin E were chosen,numbered 4,54,104,114,122 and 135.

应用MAS技术改良水稻特异种质大粒溪香的稻瘟病抗性

本研究以携带Pi1和Pi9抗病基因的BC_(4)F_(2)群体为基础材料,利用分子标记辅助选择(MAS)完成BC_(5)F_(5)株系的构建,并对其进行苗瘟接种鉴定及不同生态环境的田间自然鉴定。结果表明,大粒溪香的苗瘟病级为7级,而改良株系病级为2~6级。大粒溪香在湄潭和黎平两病圃叶瘟病病级为8级和7级,穗瘟病均为9级高感,其综合抗性指数为8.4,表现为高感稻瘟病;而改良株系在两病圃叶瘟病病级为1~7级,穗瘟病病级为5~9级,表现为感和高感,但穗瘟损失率病级较轻,相较对照大粒溪香8级穗瘟损失率,降低了3~7个病级。通过分子标记辅助选择获得改良株系抗性较原始亲本大粒溪香均有不同程度提升,明确了改良株系在不同生态区的稻瘟病抗性水平差异,筛选出一批可供育种利用的水稻新种质。

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MAS选育抗大豆花叶病毒病SC7新品种阜豆169

为培育黄淮海和长江流域大豆产区主要大豆花叶病毒流行株系SC7的抗性大豆品种,阜阳市农业科学院/国家大豆改良中心安徽分中心以郑97196为母本、科丰29为父本进行杂交,结合MAS方法选育出抗花叶病毒SC7株系夏大豆新品种阜豆169。两年试验平均粗蛋白含量40.96%,平均粗脂肪含量19.4%。抗性基因连锁分子标记BARCSOYSSR_02_0631鉴定和人工接种鉴定结果均表明,该品种对大豆花叶病毒SC3和SC7株系均表现抗病。对8个大豆疫霉菌株均表现抗病。2019年生产试验产量2668.05 kg·hm^(-2),较对照中黄13增产9.43%。苗期耐渍,后期耐旱,抗倒抗病,落叶性好,不裂荚,高产稳产。于2020年通过安徽省农作物品种审定委员会审定,审定编号为皖审豆20200001。此次MAS技术的应用实现了大豆品系抗花叶病毒SC7相关位点的早期子代选择鉴定,不仅突破了时空条件的限制,而且避免了传统方法接种鉴定时传播花叶病毒的情况,减少了后续工作量,缩短抗病高产大豆品种育种周期。

A Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence Marker to Detect Variation in Wx Locus Conditioning Translucent Endosperm in Rice

The translucent endosperm trait in a japonica rice variety ＇Kantou 194＇ is controlled by a Wx-mq gene which is allelic to Wx locus by genetic analysis and allelic test. The amylose content analysis showed that an intermediate amylose content between those of glutinous and non-glutinous rice existed in endosperm of homozygous Wx-mq genotype. The slight changes of amylose content in different varieties and F1 grains with an identical Wx-mq genotype might be influenced by dissimilar genetic background. To identify the Wx-mq genotype simply and rapidly, a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence （CAPS） marker was designed. The result from the molecular detection indicated that it could be used for marker-assisted selection for low amylose content varieties in rice breeding.

Molecular Improvement of Grain Weight and Yield in Rice by Using GW6 Gene

Molecular design breeding is one of straightforward approaches to break yield barriers in rice. In this study, GW6 gene for grain length and width from Baodali was transferred into an indica recurrent parent 9311 and a japonica variety Zhonghua 11 （ZH11） using marker-assisted backcross （MAB）. One and three introgression lines were selected for phenotypic analysis from 9311 and ZH11 genetic backgrounds, respectively. SSL-1, an improved 9311 near isogenic line with GW6 performed 11%, 19% and 6.7%higher of grain length, 1000-grain weight and single plant yield, respectively, as compared with 9311. All the three improved ZH11-GW6 lines, R1, R2 and R3, had more than 30% increase in grain weight and about 7%higher in grain yield. Seed plumpness of R1, R2 and R3 was improved synchronously because the three ZH11-GW6 lines contained GIF1 （Grain Incomplete Filling 1）, a dominant grain filling gene. Thus, GW6 has high potential in increasing the yield of inbred lines through MAB, making it an important genetic resource in super hybrid rice breeding. This study provides insights in the utilization of GW6 for large grain and high yield rice breeding via molecular design breeding.

Deep genotyping of the gene GmSNAP facilitates pyramiding resistance to cyst nematode in soybean

Soybean cyst nematode(SCN)is a highly destructive pathogen.The soybean host genome harbors at least two major genes for resistance(rhg1 and Rhg4),as well as a minor locus(SCN3-11).In the present study,a splicing site in GmSNAP11,the potential causal gene of SCN3-11,was identified by comparison of the GmSNAP11 cDNA sequences generated from resistant and susceptible soybean accessions.The sequence information was used to design a codominant CAPS marker,GmSNAP11-2565,which was used to genotype a panel of 209 soybean accessions varying with respect to SCN resistance.Analyses of the effect of the haplotypes formed by GmSNAP11-2565 and another large-effect(nonsynonymous)locus,GmSNAP11-2307,previously identified in GmSNAP11,revealed linkage disequilibrium(P<0.0001)between the two loci,suggesting that GmSNAP11-2565 could be used as a marker for GmSNAP11.GmSNAP11-2565 was accordingly used,along with established markers for GmSNAP18(rhg1)and GmSHMT(Rhg4),to characterize the panel accessions.The mean SCN female index of accessions carrying only the GmSNAP11 allele associated with resistance(20.3%)was higher than that associated with accessions carrying alleles for resistance at both GmSNAP11 and GmSNAP18(12.4%),while the index for accessions carrying alleles for resistance at all of GmSNAP11,GmSNAP18,and GmSHMT was very low(1.9%).Selection on all three markers was effective for maintaining a high level of resistance to SCN race 3.

Breeding of CMS maintainer lines through anther culture assisted by high-resolution melting-based markers

The integrated use of molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) and anther culture has potential to significantly increase efficiency in plant breeding;however, reports on this kind of practical use are very limited. In the present study, we report the development of cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) maintainers with aroma, disease resistance and red-brown hulls, as an example of integration of MAS and anther culture in rice breeding. A high-resolution melting (HRM)-based functional molecular marker was developed for the red-brown hull trait caused by a unique mutation (rbh1) in OsCAD2. Functional molecular markers for genes of rice blast resistance (Pi2), aroma (fgr) and red-brown hull (rbh1) were used for precise genotyping of individual plants in the BC1 and BC2F2 populations derived from a cross between CMS maintainers Huaxiang B (pi2–/rbh1–/fgr–) and Rong 3B (Pi2+/RBH1+/Fgr+). A total of 89 doubled haploid (DH) lines were generated from selected BC2F2 plants (Pi2+/rbh1–/fgr–) by anther culture. Seven DH lines were subsequently selected as the potential new CMS maintainers based on their overall performance and high resistance to blast. Our study demonstrated that integration of MAS and anther culture significantly accelerated the development of CMS maintainers with multiple stacked genes.

Identification of QTLs Associated with Total Soyasaponin Content in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Soyasaponins are valuable compounds in certain drugs, industry, food additives and surfactants. Selecting cultivars with higher-soyasaponin content along with agronomic traits is a main goal for many soybean breeders. The aim of the present study was to identify the quantitative trait loci （QTLs） associated with total soyasaponin content through a F2 population, which was derived from a cross between Ha 91016 （higher soyasaponin content cultivar, 16.8 mg gl） and N98-9445A （lower soyasaponin content, only 5.7 mg g-l）. A genetic linkage map including a total of 162 simple sequence repeat markers was constructed, which covered the total length 2 735.5 cM, and the average distance between markers was 16.96 cM. Two QTLs associated with total soyasaponin content were identified. One, qSAP1 （located in sat_044-satt102 of linkage group （LG） K）, could explain 12.6% of phenotypic variance. The other, qSAP_2, was located between satt368 and sat413 of LG Dla, which could explain 15.8% of phenotypic variance. It was concluded that the two QTLs would have some potential value for marker-assisted selection for high-soyasaponin content breeding in soybeans.

Development of Insect-Resistant Hybrid Rice by Introgressing the Bt Gene from Bt Rice Huahui 1 into Ⅱ-32A/B,a Widely Used Cytogenic Male Sterile System

Huahui 1 is an elite transgenic male sterile restorer line of wild rice abortive-type that expresses a Bacillus thuringiensis （Bt） δ-endotoxin and provides effective and economic control oflepidopteran insects. To exploit Huahui 1 to develop a new Bt rice, the insertion site of the Bt gene was determined by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR （TAIL-PCR）. Bt was located in the promoter region ofLOC. Os10g10360, approximately 5.35 Mb from the telomere of the short arm of chromosome 10. For the first time, a Bt cytoplasmic male sterile （CMS） system was developed by introgressing Bt from Huahui 1. The recipient CMS system used consisted of Indonesia paddy rice-type II-32B （maintainer line） and II-32A （male sterile line）. Marker-assisted selection was used to increase selection efficiency in the backcrossing program. In BC5F1, the Bt plant 85015-8 was selected for further analyses, as it had the highest SSR marker homozygosity. In addition, the linkage drag of the foreign Bt gene in 85015-8 was minimized to 8.01-11.46 Mb. The foreign Bt gene was then delivered from 85015-8 into II-32A. The resultant Bt II-32A and Bt II-32B lines were both resistant to lepidopteran in field trials, and agronomic traits were not disturbed. The maintainability of II-32B, and the male sterility and general combining ability of II-32A, were not affected by the Bt introgression. This study demonstrates a simple and fast approach to develop Bt hybrid rice.