A high-resolution physical map targeting a cluster of yield-related QTLs on the long arm of rice chromosome 9 has been constructed across a 37.4 kb region containing seven predicted genes. Using a series of BC3F4 nearly isogenic lines (NILs) derived from a cross between the Korean japonica cultivar Hwaseongbyeo and Oryza rufipogon (IRGC 105491), a total of seven QTLs for 1,000-grain weight, spikelets per panicle, grains per panicle, panicle length, spikelet density, heading date and plant height were identified in the cluster (P

No abstract

A genetic evaluation of safflower germplasm collections derived from different geographical regions and countries will provide useful information for sustainable conservation and the utilization of genetic diversity. However, the molecular marker information is limited for evaluation of genetic diversity of safflower germplasm. In this study, we acquired 509 putative genomic SSR markers for sufficient genome coverage using next-generation sequencing methods and characterized thirty polymorphic SSRs in safflower collection composed of 100 diverse accessions. The average allele number and expected heterozygosity were 2.8 and 0.386, respectively. Analysis of population structure and phylogeny based on thirty SSR profiles revealed genetic admixture between geographical regions contrary to genetic clustering. However, the accessions from Korea were genetically conserved in distinctive groups in contrast to other safflower gene pool. In conclusion, these new genomic SSRs will facilitate valuable studies to clarify genetic relationships as well as conduct population structure analyses, genetic map construction and association analysis for safflower.

Gibberella fujikuroi species complex (GFSC) was isolated from rice (Oryza sativa L.) seed samples from ten Asian countries and investigated for incidence of GFSC, molecular characteristics, and pathogenicity. Regardless of geographic origin, GFSC was detected with incidences ranging from 3% to 80%. Four species, Fusarium fujikuroi, F. concentricum, F. proliferatum, and F. verticillioides, were found to show an association with rice seeds, with F. fujikuroi being the predominant species. In phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences, no relationship was found between species, isolates, and geographic sources of samples. Unidentified fragments of the β-tubulin gene were observed in ten isolates of F. fujikuroi and F. verticillioides. With the exception of three isolates of F. fujikuroi, F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum, and F. verticillioides were found to have FUM1 (the fumonisin biosynthetic gene); however, FUM1 was not found in isolates of F. concentricum. Results of pathogenicity testing showed that all isolates caused reduced germination of rice seed. In addition, F. fujikuroi and F. concentricum caused typical symptoms of bakanae, leaf elongation and chlorosis, whereas F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides only caused stunting of seedlings. These findings provide insight into the characteristics of GFSC associated with rice seeds and might be helpful in development of strategies for management of bakanae.

No abstract

Bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a destructive disease of rice in the major rice growing countries of Asia. In 2003, a serious bacterial blight epidemic occurred in the southwestern coastal areas in Korea, causing significant yield loss due to the emergence of a new race, K3a. IR24 near-isogenic lines containing Xa4, xa5, Xa7 and Xa21 genes conferred different degrees of resistance to the most virulent K3a isolate, HB01009 in an inoculation experiment in the greenhouse. Expression levels of the resistance genes, Xa4, xa5 and Xa21 were studied in two F2 populations derived from the crosses between elite japonica cultivars and an advanced backcross breeding line possessing Xa4, xa5 and Xa21 genes. F2 progenies segregated for K3a resistance (R) and susceptible (S) phenotypes in a ratio of 3(R):1(S) indicated that K3a resistance was controlled by a major dominant gene. Three PCR markers tightly linked to the resistance genes Xa4, xa5 and Xa21 confirmed the presence of the genes and their interaction with each gene. This study demonstrated that the Xa21 gene dominantly contributed to K3a resistance. However, the Xa4 gene also contributed to the full expression of resistance. The level of expression of strong resistance to K3a race was attributed to the presence of Xa21 and Xa4 genes irrespective of the presence of xa5 gene. Our results suggest that the R-gene combinations of Xa4+Xa21 could be a useful and effective strategy toward improving resistance to K3a race of Korean japonica cultivars.

To employ molecular marker-aided selection for developing japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with high yielding potential and good eating quality, we carried out QTL analysis for agronomic and grain traits using 231 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) from a cross between two temperate japonica cultivars, Suweon365 and Chucheongbyeo. A linkage map with 221 loci, including 134 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), 66 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), and 21 miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs)-anchored markers, was constructed covering 2,227 cM of the twelve rice chromosomes, with an average distance of 11.0 cM between markers. The proportion of polymorphic bands between parents averaged 19.5%, 12.9% and 42.3% for SSRs, AFLPs and MITEs, respectively. Construction of maps without AFLP or MITE markers indicated that expansion of this map is due to the incorporation of AFLP markers, and this result is consistent with previous reports. Twenty-seven QTLs for ten traits were identified over two years, and fourteen were consistently detected in two consecutive years. When the locations of each QTL detected in this study were compared with those in previous QTLs studies, eight QTLs for culm length, spikelets per panicle and, thickness, length and shape of grain, had not been reported in previous mapping studies, indicating potentially novel alleles of japonica rice. Interestingly, a cluster of seven QTLs, including heading date and grain morphology traits, was detected on the long arm of chromosome 7. The markers linked to these QTLs would be valuable in a marker-assisted breeding program for japonica cultivars.

No abstract