Molecular mapping of a fertility restorer gene in basmati rice using microsatellite markers

Abstract

At the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi work is underway on the development of rice hybrids having basmati quality. One of the major limitations faced so far while developing basmati quality rice hybrids was the non-availability of perfect restorers in basmati germplasm. In order to overcome this, selective inter-mating was followed in F2 and subsequent generations of partially restored basmati quality F1 hybrids with intensive selection for enhanced restoration. This approach of restorer breeding led to the development of several promising iso-cytoplasmic restorers combining basmati quality [1]. These restorers are presently being used for the development of basmati quality rice hybrids. But the lack of morphological markers that help early detection of the potential plants possessing the fertility restorer gene, makes the breeding process inefficient and equally intense only at anthesis stage. Molecular tagging of fertility restorer gene in these restorer lines would help in the transfer of the restorer gene(s) to desirable agronomic background without involVing a sterile cytoplasm or extensive test crossing, development of restorers with normal cytoplasm, pyramiding of restorer genes, selection for restorer genes independent of environmental influence on restoration, identification of plants with res!orer genes at early seedling stage by employing the marker assisted selection to augment backcross breeding. Ultimately the identification of closely linked markers would help in map based doning of fertility restorer gene to understand the molecular and biochemical nature of fertility restorer gene.