Segregation analysis of microsatellite (SSR) markers in sugarcane polyploids

Area of Science:

• Plant genetics
• Molecular breeding
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Segregation analysis of DNA markers in sugarcane using both pollen and self-progeny data is not well-documented.
• Understanding DNA marker segregation is crucial for efficient breeding programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker segregation in sugarcane cultivar LCP 85-384 using single pollen and self-progeny.
• To provide insights for selecting crossing parents and optimizing seedling population size in sugarcane breeding.

Main Methods:

• Employed capillary electrophoresis and fluorescence-based DNA fingerprinting.
• Utilized single pollen collection and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for analysis.
• Examined segregation of 20 SSR alleles across five polymorphic SSR markers in 964 single pollens and 288 self-progenies.

Main Results:

• Observed Mendelian segregation and independent assortment for SSR alleles, with only one non-parental allele detected.
• Found significant correlations between observed and expected genotype frequencies in both pollen and self-progeny populations.
• Identified simplex, duplex, and triplex markers based on segregation ratios, with some ratios remaining unexplainable.

Conclusions:

• SSR marker inheritance in sugarcane largely conforms to Mendelian laws.
• The findings support efficient selection strategies and inform breeding decisions for sugarcane improvement.
• This study establishes a foundation for segregation analysis involving pollen and self-progeny in polyploid species.