In bread wheat, high grain protein content (GPC) determines nutritional value, processing properties and quality of the end-product. In view of this, marker-assisted selection (MAS) was performed for introgression of a major gene for high GPC (Gpc-B1) into 10 wheat genotypes. As a result, 124 BC 3 F 5 /F 6 progenies with Gpc-B1 were developed and evaluated in multi-location field trials. Significant interaction of Gpc-B1 with the recipient parent genotypes and the environment was noticed. However, a total of seven MASderived progenies with significantly higher GPC (14.83-17.85%) than their recipient parental genotypes and having no yield penalty were obtained. In these selected progenies, no significant negative correlation of grain yield with GPC (%) or protein yield was observed suggesting that GPC could be improved without yield penalty. This study thus suggested that MAS in combination with phenotypic selection is a useful strategy for development of wheat genotypes with high GPC associated with no loss in yield.

It is known that nearly one-third of the world population currently suffers from malnutrition due to lack of availability of adequate quantity of protein, vitamins and a number of micronutrients including Fe and Zn in their diet. A lack of other desirable bioactive compounds and dietary fibres (DF) in the diet also causes a variety of diseases. In some regions of the world, occurrence of Cd and As in wheat grain in excess of tolerance limits also adversely affects human health. In this short review, we summarize the current status of knowledge about the genetic control of the accumulation of a variety of nutritional constituents in wheat grain and then describe examples where noticeable improvements have been made using breeding approaches. We also describe the gaps that need to be bridged for better understanding of the genetic architecture of these important traits. The development and use of molecular markers in marker-assisted selection (MAS) for developing wheat varieties with improved grain quality has also been discussed.

Jute is an important natural fibre crop, which is only second to cotton in its importance at the global level. It is mostly grown in Indian subcontinent and has been recently used for the development of genomics resources.We recently initiated a programme to develop simple sequence repeat markers and reported a set of 2469 SSR that were developed using four SSR-enriched libraries (Mir et al. 2009). In this communication, we report an additional set of 607 novel SSR in 393 SSR containing sequences. However, primers could be designed for only 417 potentially useful SSR. Polymorphism survey was carried out for 374 primer pairs using two parental genotypes (JRO 524 and PPO4) of a mapping population developed for fibre fineness; only 66 SSR were polymorphic. Owing to a low level of polymorphism between the parental genotypes and a high degree of segregation distortion in recombinant inbred lines, genotypic data of only 53 polymorphic SSR on the mapping population consisting of 120 RIL could be used for the construction of a linkage map; 36 SSR loci were mapped on six linkage groups that covered a total genetic distance of 784.3 cM. Hopefully, this map will be enriched with more SSR loci in future and will prove useful for identification of quantitative trait loci/genes for molecular breeding involving improvement of fibre fineness and other related traits in jute.

Triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack) is an important feed crop which suffers severe yield, grade and end-use quality losses due to Fusarium head blight (FHB). Development of resistant triticale cultivars is hindered by lack of effective genetic resistance sources. To dissect FHB resistance, a doubled haploid spring triticale population produced from the cross TMP16315/AC Ultima using a microspore culture method, was phenotyped for FHB incidence, severity, visual rating index (VRI), deoxynivalenol (DON) and some associated traits (ergot, grain protein content, test weight, yield, plant height and lodging) followed by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. A high-density map consisting of 5274 SNPs, mapped on all 21 chromosomes with a map density of 0.48 cM/SNP, was constructed. Together, 17 major quantitative trait loci were identified for FHB on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 3A, 4A, 4R, 5A, 5R and 6B; two of incidence loci (on 2B and 5R) also co-located with loci for severity and VRI, and two other loci of VRI (on 1A and 4R) with DON accumulation. Major and minor loci were also identified for all other traits in addition to many epistasis loci. This study provides new insight into the genetic basis of FHB resistance and their association with other traits in triticale.