Molecular analysis of rice genotypes for fertility restoration using microsatellite markers through single marker analysis

Genetic profiling of parental genotypes for fertility restoration is considered essential in hybrid rice technology. The traditional approach involves crossing and F1s evaluation to identify maintainer and restorer lines is cumbersome and time strategy than marker assisted selection (MAS) approach.Among various molecular markers, microsatellite markers are technically easy to use and less expensive and have extensively used for the characterization of parental lines in rice. A set of 7 SSR primers linked to rice fertility restoring genes were used for the amplification of fertility restoring alleles in 50 rice genotypes. Based on banding pattern of the 07 primers, polymorphic information content (PIC) of each primer was calculated which areranged from 0.1800 (RM 443) to 0.4928 (RM 3233 and RM 171). UPGMA and SAHN cluster analysis grouped all 50 genotypes into 15 clusters which showed a significant genetic variation among the genotypes. The single marker analysis was done with paired‘t’ test for unequal variances to find association between marker and the trait (fertility restoration). Results revealed that four out of seven SSR markers viz, RM1 and RM3233 (linked to Rf3), RM171 and RM1108 (linked to Rf4) exhibited a P-value of less than 0.05 which indicates a significant association between marker and the trait. Linked molecular markers viz., RM1, RM3233, RM171 and RM1108 can efficiently be used in identification of fertility restoring genes/alleles, facilitating the screening of rice germplasm for their fertility restoring ability. Moreover, identification of restorers through molecular markers would save time, and money adding accuracy in selection. The fully restorer lines identified in the present study can further be utilized in development of new commercial rice hybrids.