Efficiency of molecular markers in identifying fertility restoration trait of WA-CMS system in rice

摘要

To assess the efficiency of different molecular markers which are linked to fertility restorer genes Rf3 and Rf4 of WA-CMS system, 103 breeding lines with no information on fertility restoration were screened with the help of molecular markers linked to major fertility genes Rf3 and Rf4. The breeding lines were crossed with APMS6A and the Pis were evaluated for pollen and spikelet fertility to identify restorers and maintainers. The SSR primer RM6100 linked to Rf4 gene of chromosome 10 and RM10313 linked to Rf3 gene of chromosome 1 showed eighty five and eight one percentage efficiency respectively in identifying restorer lines. Therefore, these markers are useful tool for evaluating large number of breeding lines to know about their fertility restoration in a short period of time without generating and evaluating large number of test crosses. The potential restorers may be identified with hundred percentage efficiency based on molecular screening itself, if candidate genes based markers are developed and validated for both Rf4 and Rf3 genes.