Molecular Markers Assisted Selection In Quality Protein Maize Breeding Efforts

opaque-2(o2)gene increases the lysine and tryptophan contents sinificantly in maizeendosperm. Modifying genes could alter the kernel phenotype including kernel horniness,kernel weightiness and kernel transparency. In this study, the SSR primer phi057 that linkedtightly with opaque-2 (o2) was used to detect o2o2 genotype in the QPM(Quality ProteinMaize) populations CPop13, and CPop14, and it was revealed that the frequency of o2 genehad shifted significantly in the two populations. The MAS was used to detect the o2o2genotype in CA, CD, CB, and R series lines. It was indicated that homozygous o2o2 genotypein QPM inbred lines could not be ensured with conventional breeding efforts.Germplasm background is constraint in QPM breeding efforts. In the current study anefficient technique of marker assisted selection for QPM was established based on theoptimized DNA extraction, technique program of SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) andAFLP(Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism). In order to enhance the QPM germplasmbasis and convert 50 elite normal lines into QPM, the SSR marker Phi057 was used to detecto2 gene in backcross generations, and it proved to be a powerful tool in the efforts. The SSRprimer phi057 was used to detect o2 gene in BC1F1 and BC2F1 of the crosses(CA335×X178) , (CA335×HZ4). It was proved that the marker used to foreground selectionis effective. The AFLP primers were used to detect background in BC1F1 and BC2F1 of thecrosses. It was proved that the similarity of BC2F1 increases more apparently than similarityof BC1F1, and more heterozygous loci tend to homozygous. Molecular Markers AssistedSelection (MAS) can expedites breeding program. It offers important theoretical method forMolecular Markers Assisted Selection of QPM.