ARS | Publication request: RiceCAP: Development of molecular markers associated with long grain milling yield

Submitted to: Cereal Foods World
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 19, 2007
Publication Date: October 8, 2007
Citation: Mcclung, A.M., Boza, E., Fjellstrom, R.G., Guo, Z., Jodari, F., Linscombe, S.D., Moldenhauer, K.K., Nelson, J., Oard, J., Scheffler, B.E., Sun, X. 2007. RiceCAP: Development of molecular markers associated with long grain milling yield. Cereal Foods World 52:A5.

Technical Abstract: U.S. rice breeders are focused on developing new cultivars that have high yield and high milling quality. Using traditional breeding methods, it takes approximately ten years to develop a new cultivar. Development of molecular markers that are closely linked to traits of economic value will increase the effectiveness of selection and will allow materials having limited breeding value to be quickly discarded. RiceCAP is a multi-state, multi-discipline research project funded by the USDA CSREES National Research Initiative which has the goal to develop DNA markers that are associated with long grain milling yield. Three long grain mapping populations have been developed to identify chromosomal regions using microsatellite markers that are associated with traits that influence head rice yield. As a result of this research, new techniques have been developed to accurately quantify grain characteristics known to influence milling quality. These include using an image analysis system to measure grain dimension and quantify chalk and an improved method to assess fissuring susceptibility. Results from analysis of the first mapping population, involving Cypress/RT0034, have identified significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with grain dimensions, susceptibility to grain chalk, grain fissuring, and whole grain milling yield. These markers are being validated in a second mapping population derived from Cypress/LaGrue. RiceCAP is facilitating the integration of molecular technology into each of the public U.S, breeding programs so that new discoveries in genomic research can be used by the rice breeding community for the development of new cultivars that have high value and which will help the US rice industry remain competitive in the global market.