Identification of RAPD markers for percent hull in oat.

Percent hull is an important physical parameter of oat grain quality, but it is affected by environment. Multiple time-consuming evaluations are required to obtain a correct determination of phenotype. The application of marker-assisted selection for the genes involved would greatly simplify the identification of desirable oat genotypes. Bulked segregant analysis, with selected progeny lines derived from a cross between Cascade and AC Marie (30 and 23% hull, respectively), was used to identify randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers linked to genetic factors controlling primary kernel hull percentage in oat. Twelve polymorphisms, identified between bulks, were tested for linkage to genetic factors controlling hull percentage by genotyping 80 randomly selected F2-derived F8 lines from the progeny population. Three markers showed significant test statistics for quantitative trait locus effects, when tested with primary kernel percent hull data from two environments. Together, the unlinked marker loci OPC13800, OPD20600, and OPK71300 explained approximately 41% of the genetic variance in primary kernel percent hull, after accounting for the main effect of environment.

A gene for resistance to a necrosis-inducing isolate of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis located on 5BL of Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring.

Several sources of high-level resistance to tan spot caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis have been identified in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This study was conducted to determine the number and chromosome location of a gene(s) in the cultivar Chinese Spring (CS) that confers resistance to a tan necrosis inducing isolate (nec+chl−) of P. tritici-repentis, 86-124, and insensitivity to Ptr necrosis toxin. Reciprocal crosses were made between CS (resistant-insensitive) and 'Kenya Farmer' (KF) (susceptible-sensitive). Analysis of the CS/KF F1and F2 populations and F2-derived F3 families identified a single nuclear recessive gene governing resistance to isolate 86-124 and Ptr necrosis toxin. Evaluation of the CS(KF) substitution series, F2 monosomic analysis, and screening of a series of 19 CS compensating nullitetrasomic and two ditelosomic lines (2AS and 5BL) indicated that the resistance gene was located on chromosome arm 5BL. No linkage exists between Lr18 and the tan necrosis resistance gene on chromosome arm 5BL. It is proposed that the gene for resistance to the tan necrosis inducing isolate 86-124 (nec+chl−) of P. tritici-repentis and Ptr necrosis toxin be named tsn1. Key words : wheat, Triticum aestivum L., tan spot resistance, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechs., chromosome location, Ptr necrosis toxin.

Characterization of loci containing microsatellite sequences among Canadian wheat cultivars.

Two microsatellite sequences, one within a γ-gliadin locus and another within a low molecular weight glutenin locus, were characterized on a set of 16 wheat lines. The wheat lines analyzed were primarily Canadian cultivars or breeding lines. A high level of variation was detected, especially between the Canadian Prairie Spring and the Canadian Western Red Spring Wheat classes. Markers based on microsatellite sequence sites appear to be more informative on closely related germplasm than either RFLP- or RAPD-based markers. The applicability of these markers across a wide spectrum of classes and cultivars provides a starting point for developing a point of delivery wheat class identification system.

Identification of RAPD markers linked to a gene governing cadmium uptake in durum wheat.

Temperature sweep gel electrophoresis in combination with random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis was employed to detect two markers for a single gene governing low cadmium uptake in western Canadian durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum). Analysis of progeny derived from a cross of the high cadmium accumulating cultivar Kyle by the low cadmium accumulating cultivar Nile resulted in linkage estimates of 4.6 (OPC-20) and 21.2 (UBC-180) cM. The closest marker (OPC-20) was shown to be useful for making low cadmium uptake selections from two other sources of low cadmium, 'Biodur' and 'Hercules'. The marker was further used to determine the genetic basis of resistance in 20 introduced durum wheat lines. Within this diverse range of germplasm the marker was correlated with cadmium contents as expected in all but two cases. Plant breeding selection for low cadmium genotypes is hindered by the high cost of chemical determination of cadmium content. Marker assisted selection for a low cadmium uptake gene offers an effective alternative.

A molecular linkage map of cultivated oat.

A molecular linkage map of cultivated oat composed of 561 loci has been developed using 71 recombinant inbred lines from a cross between Avena byzantina cv. Kanota and A. sativa cv. Ogle. The loci are mainly restriction fragment length polymorphisms detected by oat cDNA clones from leaf, endosperm, and root tissue, as well as by barley leaf cDNA clones. The loci form 38 linkage groups ranging in size from 0.0 to 122.1 cM (mean, 39 cM) and consist of 2-51 loci each (mean, 14). Twenty-nine loci remain unlinked. The current map size is 1482 cM and the total size, on the basis of the number of unlinked loci, is estimated to be 2932.0 cM. This indicates that this map covers at least 50% of the cultivated oat genome. Comparisons with an A-genome diploid oat map and between linkage groups exhibiting homoeology to each other indicate that several major chromosomal rearrangements exist in cultivated oat. This map provides a tool for marker-assisted selection, quantitative trait loci analyses, and studies of genome organization in oat.

The identification of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers for daylength insensitivity in oat.

Daylength insensitive accessions of Avena sativa L. are being used to develop cultivars that will flower normally when grown under short or long photoperiods. Field data indicate that the insensitivity trait is under the control of a single dominant gene, designated Di1. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique and bulk segregant analysis of daylength sensitive and insensitive plants were used to find markers for this gene. Five of 200 random decamer primers tested produced polymorphic bands, which were shown to be linked to the trait using 30 homozygous insensitive and 30 homozygous sensitive F3 individuals. Three of the markers produced a band in the presence of the dominant allele, and two in its absence. Segregation analysis showed that markers 221 and 136 could be mapped to within 9.8 +/- 4.6 and 13.9 +/- 5.4 cM of the trait, respectively; that is, close enough to be useful in a breeding program. A study of different cultivars suggested that the band produced by primer 136 is actually the more closely linked marker and the only one present in the original Di1 gene donor CAV2700. The possibility of using both markers in populations derived from different cultivars is discussed.

Identification of an RAPD marker for the crown rust resistance gene Pc68 in oats.

The feasibility of using bulk segregant analysis to identify molecular markers for disease resistance genes in oats was investigated, utilizing random primers in conjunction with polymerase chain reaction technology. Random primers were screened for the amplification of polymorphic DNA fragments on two pools of genomic DNA isolated from plants that were homozygous for the presence and absence of the crown rust resistance gene Pc68. Ten primers were identified that amplified polymorphic DNA fragments. Of these, one was tightly linked, in repulsion, to the target gene, while the other nine were not linked to this trait. The relatively low cost of polymerase chain reaction technology, coupled with rapid leaf disc genomic DNA extraction techniques should result in the effective use of this linked marker in oat breeding selection programs.

Reproducibility of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis among laboratories.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis appears to offer a cost- and time-effective alternative to restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. However, concerns about the ability to compare RAPD results from one laboratory to another have not been addressed effectively. DNA fragments that were amplified by five primers and shown to be reproducibly polymorphic between two oat cultivars (within the Ottawa laboratory) were tested in six other laboratories in North America. Four of the six participants amplified very few or no fragments using the Ottawa protocol. These same participants were able to generate a considerable number of amplified fragments by using their own protocols. The reproducibility of results among laboratories was affected by two factors. First, different laboratories amplified different size ranges of DNA fragments, and, consequently, small and large polymorphic fragments were not always reproduced. Second, although reproducible results were obtained with four of the primers, reproducible results were not obtained with the fifth primer, using the same reaction conditions. It is suggested that if the overall temperature profiles (especially the annealing temperature) inside the tubes are identical among the laboratories, then RAPD fragments are likely to be reproducible.

Identification of a RAPD marker linked to the oat stem rust gene Pg3.

The feasibility of identifying molecular markers linked to disease resistance genes in oats was investigated utilizing random primers in conjunction with polymerase chain reaction technology. A pair of near-isogenic oat lines were screened for polymorphic DNA fragments linked to the stem rust resistance gene Pg3. Two primers were identified which amplified DNA fragments that were polymorphic between the lines analyzed. One primer (ACOpR-2) was shown to be completely linked to the Pg3 locus; the other primer was not linked to either the ACOpR-2 or the Pg3 loci. This type of analysis, combined with rapid leaf disc DNA extraction techniques, offers an effective means of identifying useful molecular markers and of applying them to plant breeding selection strategies.