Molecular markers based on sequence variation in BoFLC1.C9 for characterizing early- and late-flowering cabbage genotypes

Abstract

Abstract Background Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is popular worldwide for consumption as a leafy vegetable. Premature flowering is triggered by low temperature, and deteriorates quality of cabbage as vegetable. In general, growers prefer late-flowering varieties to assure good quality compact head. Here, we report BoFLC1.C9 as a gene with clear sequence variation between cabbage lines with different flowering times, and proposed as molecular marker to characterize early- and late-flowering cabbage lines. Results We identified sequence variation of 67 bp insertions in intron 2, which were contributed in flowering time variation between two inbred lines through rapid down-regulation of the BoFLC1.C9 gene in early-flowering line compared to late-flowering one upon vernalization. One set of primer ‘F7R7’ proposed as marker, of which was explained with 83 and 80% of flowering time variation in 141 F2 individuals and 20 commercial lines, respectively. Conclusions This F7R7 marker could be used as genetic tools to characterize flowering time variation and to select as well to develop early- and late-flowering cabbage cultivars.

Keywords

• F7R7 marker
• FLC
• Early- and late-flowering
• Cabbage