PAG-I Plant Genome I Conference

Town & Country Conference Center, San Diego, CA, November, 1992.


PG-I: 58pg1

USE OF RAPD TAGS TO MAP CHICKPEA ROOT NODULATION GENES

Thomas M. Davis 1, Patrick J. McGowan 1, and Charles J. Simon 2, 1) Plant Biology Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824; 2) USDA/ARS Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164.


Using a combination of bulk segregant and individual segregant analyses, RAPD marker tags are being identified for chickpea root modulation genes as part of a larger genetic investigation of legume root modulation at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). In a parallel investigation at Washington State University (WSU), numerous RAPD, isozyme, and RFLP markers are being added to a growing chickpea linkage map. Because both the UNH and WSU studies employ interspecific crosses between chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) lines and a common pollen parent, Cicer reticulatum P.I. 489777, many RAPD tags identified at UNH can be located on the WSU map. In this manner, modulation genes rn1 (Nod- phenotype) and Rn7 (Nod+, Fix-phenotype) both map into a common cluster of RAPD-markers on linkage group 3. RAPD tags have also been found for unlinked modulation genes rn2 and rn3. One RAPD tag is a codominant marker with unusual characteristics. Specifically, the two pertinent bands appearing in heterozygous individuals are slightly altered in electrophoretic mobility relative to the respective parental bands. The heterozygous pattern can be mimicked by mixing separately amplified parental DNAs, but only if the mixture is heated to 94C before electrophoresis. The possibility that heteroduplex formation between alternate RAPD "alleles" accounts for this phenomenon is being investigated.


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