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

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. ARTICLE HISTORY

Genetic diversity of wheat wild relatives using SSR markers

“…SSR markers are tandem repeat motifs composed of one to six nucleotides, which are ubiquitous, abundant, codominant and highly polymorphic (TEKLU et al, 2007). The SSR primers have the potential to be used for amplifying orthologous sequences in phylogenetically closely related species of the wheat (KUMAR, et al, 2016). LEONOVA et al (2009) used SSR markers to assess the polymorphism between the accessions belonging to Aegilops cylindrica (DDCC) and Aegilops triuncialis (UUCC) and found 21 SSR markers revealing polymorphism between the accessions of these species.…”