Validation of Molecular Markers Linked to Sterility and Fertility Restorer Genes in Brassica juncea (Linn) Czern and Coss

Abstract

The cytoplasmic male sterile (mori) Brassica juncea carries unaltered mt genome of Moricandia arvensis, and the fertility restoration is gamatophytic, governed by a single nuclear gene. This fertility restorer gene locus is unique in that, it is capable of restoring male fertility in two other alloplasmic CMS systems of Brassica juncea. The present study validated the application of a linked marker for identifying the restorers in segregating populations, which can accelerate breeding of restorer lines and thus, enhance efficiency of hybrid breeding in Brassica juncea. Presence of the CMS-associated orf genes was detected only in the CMS line, while SCAR primers generated amplicons in the fertile plants. This marker can be used to test the purity of hybrids as an effective substitute to the time consuming and laborious grow-out test (GOT).