Genotyping oil flax varieties using the microsatellite DNA marker system

The tendency to increase crop acreage of oil flax requires the development of new varieties with high indicators of ecological plasticity, productivity and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The application of modern biotechnolog ical approaches based on the use of molecular markers can accelerate the assessment of genetic differences and the dete rmination of potential of the source material for breeding. The research was aimed at assessment of the genotyping parameters of some oil flax varieties of VNIIMK breeding using the system of microsatellite markers. Seventeen variety samples of flax were used as the material for the research. DNA was isolated using CTAB buffer. Eleven SSR loci were used for the identification of varieties. Ten polymorphic loci were identified during the research. The total number of counted alleles is 32. The size of alleles varied in the range of 111-210 bps. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 6 with an average value of 3.20. The value of the index of polymorphic information content (PIC) was from 0.29 to 0.75 with an average parameter value of 0.51. The effective number of alleles for different loci is determined in the range of 1.40-3.94 with an average value of 2.28. The level of information content of the marker system (PIC 0.51) corresponds to that for identifying sets of genotypes from collections with a limitation in geographical origin. There were established differences in the frequency of occurrence of alleles. The discriminatory potential of the used marker system allowed to identify 15 variety samples. Two genotypes with common origin were identical. The degree of genetic relatedness of the studied flax genotypes has been evaluated. The obtained results will serve as the basis for the subsequent construction of genetic passports of oil flax varieties of VNIIMK breeding.

Molecular markers and their potentials

The use of molecular markers, revealing polymorphism at the DNA level, has been playing an increasing part in plant molecular biotechnology and their genetic studies. There are three different types of markers viz. morphological, biochemical and DNA based molecular markers. These DNA based markers are differentiating in two types 1. Non PCR based (RFLP) and 2. PCR based markers (RAPD, AFLP, SSR, SNP etc.). Amongst others, the microsatellite DNA marker is one of the most widely used marker due to its easy use by simple PCR, followed by a denaturing gel electrophoresis. SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) is nowadays is the one which is used mainly. In this review, we are going to discuss about the biochemical and molecular markers which are recently developed, the important characteristics of molecular markers their advantages, disadvantages and the applications of these markers in comparison with other markers types.