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Title: SELECTION OF INTERSPECIFIC SUGARCANE HYBRIDS USING MICROSATELLITE DNA MARKERS

Author
item Pan, Yong-Bao
item Tew, Thomas
item Grisham, Michael
item Richard Jr, Edward
item White, William
item Veremis, John

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2002
Publication Date: 6/25/2002
Citation: Pan, Y., Tew, T.L., Grisham, M.P., Richard Jr, E.P., White, W.H., Veremis, J.C. 2003. Selection of interspecific sugarcane hybrids using microsatellite DNA markers [abstract]. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 23:103.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Three types of species-specific DNA markers, namely, PCR, RAPD, and microsatellites, have been recently developed at the USDA-ARS, SRRC, Sugarcane Research Unit, Houma, Louisiana. Of these, the microsatellite markers are the most polymorphic and can produce distinctive fingerprints (or molecular alleles) among sugarcane varieties as well as their wild relatives. In 2001, 11 wild x elite biparental crosses were made that involved 10 clones of Saccharum spontaneum and six commercial-type sugarcane varieties. The S. spontaneum clones were used as maternal parents to explore the possible impact of their cytoplasm on our varietal development program. A problem associated with sugarcane breeding is the potential for self-pollination of the maternal wild parents. We have demonstrated in earlier work that self-pollination can occur even after a hot-water treatment to emasculate the maternal tassels. Therefore, some of the seeds were selfed progeny. Since S. spontaneum is on the Federal noxious weed list, direct planting of S. spontaneum (including selfed progeny) to the field is prohibited. To circumvent the planting of selfed S. spontaneum, we used microsatellite markers to screen the seedlings from these crosses while they were still in the greenhouse. In this presentation, we will show the percentage self-pollination in these crosses where the S. spontaneum flowers were hot-water treated. We also will demonstrate how microsatellite markers can be used to eliminate at the seedling stage unwanted selfs from the basic breeding and selection program.