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Title: EFFECTIVENESS OF PCR-BASED MARKERS FOR DIFFERENTIATING ELITE BROCCOLI INBREDS

Author
item Farnham, Mark
item Hale, Anna

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2005
Publication Date: 1/15/2005
Citation: Hale, A.L., Farnham, M.W. 2005. Effectiveness of PCR-based markers for differentiating elite broccoli inbreds. Proceedings Plant and Animal Genome XIII. Jan. 15-19, San Diego, CA. p. 105.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Commercial and public crucifer breeders have an ongoing interest in utilizing current and emerging PCR-based marker systems to differentiate elite germplasm in their vegetable improvement programs. These new marker systems must be more efficient and cost-effective alternatives to older techniques already in use by the respective programs. Until efficiency and cost-effectiveness is determined, most breeders are hesitant to change methods. In this study, our goal was to compare SSR, AFLP, and SRAP (sequence related amplified polymorphism) marker systems for their effectiveness in differentiating a diverse population of 24 elite broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Italica group) inbreds. Although these systems have all been used in a variety of studies with broccoli and other Brassica vegetables, their usefulness to breeding programs employing highly elite lines is unreported. Published SSR primer sequences for Brassica species were used along with AFLP and SRAP primer combinations. Several SSR primers failed to amplify DNA in the broccoli population, but all AFLP and SRAP combinations produced multiple bands. Nearly a quarter of the SSR primers produced monomorphic marker phenotypes, while most of the remaining primers detected only one or two differences among inbreds. AFLP and SRAP methods produced multiple differences per primer in almost every case. With all methods, a large majority of polymorphisms have the appearance of dominant markers. AFLP and SRAP marker systems are better alternatives than SSRs to the established methods now commonly used to differentiate elite inbreds.