Linkage of RAPD and SSR Markers to Thorniness and Floricane Fruiting in Blackberry
Molecular markers have been used previously to identify linkages to important traits of interest. In this study two marker types, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeats (SSR), were used to find molecular markers linked to two morphological traits in blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus). Thorniness and floricane fruiting are both qualitative, recessive traits that are inherited tetrasomically. A cross of `Prime-Jim'® × `Arapaho' was made to create a population that segregated for the two traits. A random sample of 98 plants from a population of 200 were assayed to find molecular markers that co-segregate with the two traits. Three putative markers were identified for the floricane fruiting trait (two SSRs and one RAPD; χ2 = 4.09 to 9.99, P < 0.001 to 0.043). Five potential RAPD markers were found for the thorny trait (χ2 = 3.88 to 10.23, P < 0.001 to 0.048). Identification of markers linked to these traits could potentially be useful in marker-assisted selection.