ARS | Publication request: Molecular Markers for Germplasm and Genebank Management

Submitted to: International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 13, 2005
Publication Date: June 14, 2005
Citation: Spooner, D.M., Van Treuren, R., De Vicente, C. 2005. Molecular Markers for Germplasm and Genebank Management. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. 10:1-136.

Technical Abstract: In the last decade, the use of DNA markers for the study of crop genetic diversity has become routine, and has revolutionized biology. Increasingly, techniques are being developed to more precisely, quickly and cheaply assess genetic variation. These techniques have changed the standard equipment of many labs, and most germplasm scientists are expected to be trained in DNA data generation and interpretation. This manual is a revision IPGRI's (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute) latest Technical Bulletin no. 2 'Molecular tools in plant genetic resources conservation: a guide to the technologies' published by Karp et al. in 1997. Our goal is to place new DNA techniques in the context of older ones, to show examples of their applications, and to guide genebank researchers towards ways to maximize their use. This bulletin reviews basic qualities of molecular markers, their generation and characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, applications, analytical techniques, and provides some examples of their use.