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