Identification of microsatellite markers for finger millet genomics application through cross transferability of rice genomic SSR markers

Abstract

In the present investigation, 345 rice genomic SSR markers were used for finding the cross transferability in twelve finger millet accessions. Out of which, 202 SSRs (58.6%) showed transferability among the finger millet genotypes and only 26 (13%) were found to be polymorphic. Thirteen markers were polymorphic between two finger millet genotypes, VR708 and GPU48, whereas five markers were between GE86 and PRM801. These markers can be effectively used in mapping populations for construction of linkage maps. Few putative orthologous regions for grain yield and its components like 1000 grain weight, leaf characteristics and root traits between rice and finger millet were detected. Among the biotic stresses, blast and brown plant hopper (BPH) resistance loci were found to be highly conserved. The PIC values of all the polymorphic loci varied from 0.15 to 0.55. Power Marker grouped the finger millet genotypes into two major clusters based on the races. The average gene diversity existing among the genotypes was relatively high (41%) indicating the usefulness of cross transferability in millet.