Identification of a RAPD marker linked to the oat stem rust gene Pg3

The feasibility of identifying molecular markers linked to disease resistance genes in oats was investigated utilizing random primers in conjunction with polymerase chain reaction technology. A pair of near-isogenic oat lines were screened for polymorphic DNA fragments linked to the stem rust resistance gene Pg3. Two primers were identified which amplified DNA fragments that were polymorphic between the lines analyzed. One primer (ACOpR-2) was shown to be completely linked to the Pg3 locus; the other primer was not linked to either the ACOpR-2 or the Pg3 loci. This type of analysis, combined with rapid leaf disc DNA extraction techniques, offers an effective means of identifying useful molecular markers and of applying them to plant breeding selection strategies.