Identification of MFLP fingerprint for higher seed zinc accumulation in barley DH population

Abstract

Selection through molecular markers for seed Zn accumulation might be an efficient complementary breeding tool in barley breeding. To develop a specific molecular markers, 150 DH lines derived from a cross between Clipper (low-Zn-accumulator) and Sahara-3771 (high-Zn-accumulator) were screened under field and glasshouse conditions. Microsatellite-anchored fragment length polymorphism (MFLP) fingerprint generated by SSR-anchor primer MF128 in combination with AFLP primer MseI-AGA (5?-GATGAGTCCTGAGTAAAGA-3?) was identified as a candidate marker for tagging seed Zn accumulation gene. The sequencing of the band showed a marker of 369 bp with the sequence of SSR anchor primer MF128 and MseI-AGA at the two ends as expected. The MFLP marker associated with higher seed Zn accumulation has potential to be converted to a simple, sequence-specific, PCR-based, low-cost marker amenable to large populations, making it potentially viable for marker-assisted selection in barley breeding. This marker might be useful in the improvement of barley productivity and nutritional quality in Zn-deficient environments.