Molecular markers for detection of Rf1 gene developed from BAC-end sequences in sunflower

Abstract

Sunflower is the second most common crop among hybrids, worldwide. Development of cytoplasmic male sterile and fertility restoration lines enables creation of hybrids. Sunflower hybrid breeding most frequently relies on the combination of the CMS PET1 cytoplasm and the fertility restoration gene Rf1. Use of molecular markers can accelerate creation of restorer lines. Previous work on this subject included mapping of the Rf1 gene on chromosome 13 and development of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries for the restorer line RHA325 and the maintainer line HA383, which enabled positioning of BAC clones surrounding the Rf1 gene in the cross RHA325 x HA342. In this study, BAC-end sequences were used to derive primers in order to amplify selected regions from RHA325 and the maintainer line, HA342. While the majority of primer combinations were monomorphic, some were polymorphic between RHA325 and HA342. Previously reported markers for detection of Rf1 gene and newly developed ones based on BAC-end sequences were further tested on hybrids and its components (A, B and R lines) created at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad.