Transferability and Polymorphism Between Group 7 Chromosome Specific Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Markers of Bread Wheat and Its Related Non-Progenitor Aegilops Species

ABSTRACT

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are highly efficient for genetic mapping and molecular breeding in crop plants. Chromosomes 7S and 7U of related non-progenitor Aegilops species possess superior genetic systems for high grain iron and zinc content. This study was undertaken to conduct a comprehensive analysis of transferability and polymorphism among group-7 anchored SSR markers of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to Aegilops species for wheat improvement. The study revealed 77% transferability of group 7-specific SSR markers of bread wheat to 7U/7S chromosomes of Aegilops species. More than 80% of the 7D specific markers were found to be transferable with a high level of polymorphism. The transferability to 7S and 7U genome suggested higher similarity between bread wheat genome(s) and S genome as compared with U genome of Aegilops species. These polymorphic markers are highly informative, robust and cost-effective for molecular breeding and could be further utilized for identification of introgression/transfer(s) of 7S/7U chromosomal fragments in bread wheat genome through wide hybridization.

KEYWORDS:

• Aegilops
• polymorphism
• transferable markers
• U and S genomes
• wide hybridization

Funding

SK and SKV are thankful to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research for providing financial assistantship. The contribution of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India for supporting the research through a Network Project “Biofortication of wheat for enhanced iron and zinc content by conventional and molecular breeding –Phase-II” (BT/AGR/Wheat Bioforti/PH-II/2010) is acknowledged with thanks.

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Additional information

Funding

SK and SKV are thankful to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research for providing financial assistantship. The contribution of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India for supporting the research through a Network Project “Biofortication of wheat for enhanced iron and zinc content by conventional and molecular breeding –Phase-II” (BT/AGR/Wheat Bioforti/PH-II/2010) is acknowledged with thanks.