Genetics and molecular markers for anthocyanin pigmentation in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link)

Abstract

This study aimed to track the inheritance and identify the expressed sequence tag (EST) -simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker (s) associated with the anthocyanin pigments in barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp.). The F 1 and F 2 generations were developed using the anthocyanin pigmented genotype ACM 331 (purple inflorescence) and three non-pigmented genotypes, ACM 333, ACM 335 and MA 10 (green inflorescence). The F 1 plants of all the three crosses had medium purple inflorescence indicating that purple pigment was partially dominant over green inflorescence. The segregation ratio of F 2 generation is 1:2:1 (purple:medium purple:green) further confirmed that purple is partially dominant over the green and governed by one gene.Fifty-one EST-SSR markers were used to screen the pigmented and non-pigmented bulks of the F 2 population. A marker, BMESSR 39 associated with the anthocyanin pigment trait was obtained, which revealed a high correlation with the anthocyanin pigment present in the F 2 population consisting of 430 individuals (85.10%) and 80 barnyard millet genotypes (63.75%). The information obtained in this study could pave way for breeding anthocyanin pigmented genotypes and genetic studies in barnyard millet.