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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Crop Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #116047

Title: MOLECULAR MAPPING OF THE RF1 GENE FOR POLLEN FERTILITY RESTORATION IN SORGHUM (SORGHUM BICOLOR L.)

Author
item Klein, Robert - Bob
item KLEIN, PATRICIA - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item CHHABRA, ASHOK - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item DONG, JIANMIN - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item PAMMI, SUJATA - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item CHILDS, KEVIN - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item ROONEY, WILLIAM - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item SCHERTZ, KEITH - USDA, ARS, RETIRED

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2000
Publication Date: 6/1/2001
Citation: Klein, R.R., Klein, P.E., Chhabra, A., Dong, J., Pammi, S., Childs, K.L., Rooney, W.L., Schertz, K.F. 2001. Molecular mapping of the rf1 gene for pollen fertility restoration in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 102:1206-1212.

Interpretive Summary: Plant genetics is a field of scientific research whose main purpose is to understand at the most complex and minute detail (the genetic level) just how plants live and function. With such understanding, better plant varieties can be developed to greatly improve the production of human foods and animal feed worldwide. We have conducted research on sorghum (a type of grass whose seed is used as a human food and animal feed), using very sophisticated and complex techniques of molecular biology. Results from our work will be very useful in aiding other scientists (plant breeders, etc.) to develop better plant varieties. Our work makes it easier to determine how molecular components of plants called genes control how the plant functions and how genes control plant appearance. The information we have uncovered will be useful also to other scientists working in other important grasses, which include corn and wheat.

Technical Abstract: We report the molecular mapping of a gene for pollen fertility in male sterile cytoplasm sorghum. DNA from a sorghum population was screened with genetic markers to detect polymorphic DNAs linked to fertility restoration. Fifteen markers were linked to fertility restoration from the initial screening. As many of these markers had been previously mapped to a high density genetic map of sorghum, the target gene, rf1, could be mapped to linkage group H. Confirmation of the map location of rf1 was obtained by demonstrating that additional linkage group H markers were linked to fertility restoration. The closest marker, Xtxa2582, mapped within 2.4 centiMorgans of the target loci while two microsatellite genetic markers, Xtxp18 and Xtxp250, flanked the rf1 locus at 12 centiMorgans and 10.8 centiMorgans, respectively. The availability of molecular markers will facilitate selection of pollen fertility restoration during sorghum inbred line development and provide the foundation for map-based gene isolation.