Identification, fine mapping and characterisation of a dwarf mutant (bnaC.dwf) in Brassica napus

In the present study, we have obtained one dwarf mutant (bnaC.dwf) from the Brassica napus inbred line T6 through chemical mutagen ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). We have determined the phenotypic effects and genetic characteristics of dwarf mutant (bnaC.dwf). The dwarf mutant was insensitive to exogenous GA(3) for plant height, suggesting that it is significantly playing a crucial role in the gibberellins response pathway. Genetic analysis revealed that one recessive gene is responsible for controlling the phenotypic expression of dwarf mutant. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique was applied for selecting markers linked to the BnaC.DWF gene which assisted in screening of dwarf and normal individuals in the BC(4) population. We have screened 1,024 primer combinations and then identified nine AFLP markers linked to the BnaC.DWF gene. Identification and linkage of the markers were carried out by analysing 2,000 individuals from a larger population of the BC(4). Two markers EA10MC09 and EA12MC02 were located on the flanking region of the BnaC.DWF gene at a distance of 0.2 and 0.05 cM, respectively. Four AFLP markers EA09MG05, EA02MC07, EA01MC01 and EC04MC07 were successfully converted into Sequence Characterised Amplified Region markers namely SCA9G5, SCA2C7, SCA1C1 and SCC4C7. We further integrated BnaC.DWF linked Simple Sequence Repeat markers into two populations (Piquemal et al. Theor Appl Genet 111:1514-1523, 2005; Cheng et al. Theor Appl Genet 118:1121-1131, 2009). BnaC.DWF was mapped to the linkage region N18. The molecular markers developed from these investigations will greatly accelerate the selection process for developing dwarf varieties in B. napus by Marker Assisted Selection and genetic engineering.