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Title: New Markers from Sugar Metabolism ESTs: Tagging Positive Alleles from Saccharum spontaneum

Author
item DA SILVA, JORGE - TEXAS A&M UNIV, TAES
item Veremis, John
item SOLIS-GRACIA, NORA - TEXAS A&M UNIV, TAES

Submitted to: International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2006
Publication Date: 4/20/2006
Citation: Da Silva, J.A., Veremis, J.C., Solis-Gracia, N. 2006. New Markers from Sugar Metabolism ESTs: Tagging Positive Alleles from Saccharum spontaneum [abstract]. International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Molecular Biology Workshop, April 3-7, 2006, Reduit, Mauritius.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Limited genetic gains, obtained from breeding for sugar content in different breeding programs worldwide suggest that a plateau has been reached for this trait. One way to overcome this obstacle would be to identify and introduce into commercial germplasm alternative alleles controlling sugar metabolism that could further increase the synthesis of sucrose. Such alleles are most likely to be present in other sucrose-bearing non-commercial Saccharum species including Saccharum spontaneum. S. spontaneum has played an important role in the development of modern sugarcane varieties, but a limited number of clones from this species were used in the production of these varieties. The introgression of positive alleles through traditional methods, is expensive and lengthy, due to “genetic drag”. Utilization of molecular markers associated with traits of interest, would be extremely valuable to sugarcane breeders, because it would allow a more efficient selection to increase genetic gains. We used the DNA sequence information of genes involved in sucrose metabolism, recently deposited in the Genebank, as a result of the Brazilian Sugarcane Expressed Sequence Tag project – SUCEST, to develop Target Region Amplified Polymorphism – TRAP - markers. These markers are currently being applied to a collection of 51 S. spontaneum clones, that show a significant amount of variation for sugar and cane yield components. Polymorphisms detected in these genomic regions are candidate markers for gene tagging for sucrose and fiber content, to be used in marker-assisted selection for the introgression of superior alleles.