Validating effect of QTLs and identifying breeder friendly markers for manipulating grain length in local rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes

Abstract

Rice varieties possessing short slender grains with aroma is highly preferred by the farmers. Most of the non-basmati rice varieties are traditional genotypes possessing poor yield and undesirable characteristics like lodging, susceptibility against pests/diseases/abiotic stresses which necessitates accelerating development of such varieties. The present study was undertaken with an aim of validating SSR markers linked to grain length in an F2 population derived between Pusa Basmati 1 (long slender grain) and CBMAS1405 (short slender grain). Genotyping and phenotyping of F2 progenies revealed that two SSR markers viz., RM11 and RM336 were found to be linked to qGRL7.1 and qGRL7.2 respectively with a phenotypic effect (R2) of 7.9% and 16.5%. Genotyping and phenotyping of F2 progenies of CBMAS14065 x Pusa Basmati 1 led to the identification of two agronomically superior lines viz., 224-7 (5.2 mm) and 224-9 (7.7 mm) harboring short grains with aroma and high yield potential.

Keywords

• rice
• grain length
• aroma
• marker validation