Sequence tagged microsatellite profiling (STMP): improved isolation of DNA sequence flanking target SSRs

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Plant Breeding

Background:

• Sequence tagged microsatellite profiling (STMP) is a method for rapid development of co-dominant DNA markers called sequence tagged microsatellites (STMs).
• STMs are amplified using PCR with a primer flanking the microsatellite and a universal primer binding to the microsatellite's 5'-end.
• STMs can be converted into conventional simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, which use flanking primers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a modification of the STMP procedure.
• To significantly improve the conversion of STMs into conventional SSR markers.
• To facilitate the development of highly specific DNA markers for applications like marker-assisted breeding.

Main Methods:

• Modification of the Sequence Tagged Microsatellite Profiling (STMP) procedure.
• PCR amplification using specific and universal primers for STM generation.
• Conversion of STMs into conventional SSR markers.

Main Results:

• The modified STMP procedure significantly enhances the capacity to convert STMs into conventional SSRs.
• The technique facilitates the development of highly specific DNA markers.
• The usefulness of the modified technique was demonstrated in bread wheat.

Conclusions:

• The modified STMP procedure offers an improved method for developing specific DNA markers.
• This advancement is particularly beneficial for marker-assisted breeding programs.
• The study successfully demonstrated the application and utility of the modified technique in bread wheat.