Plant & Animal Genome IX Conference

Workshop: Forage & Turfgrass
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GENETIC MAP CONSTRUCTION IN REFERENCE AND TRAIT-SPECIFIC FAMILIES OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS AND WHITE CLOVER

Plant Biotechnology Centre, Agriculture Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia and CRC for Molecular Plant Breeding

Molecular genetic markers are being developed for marker-assisted breeding of the key forage species perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). These systems are being used for genetic diversity analysis and cultivar identification, genetic dissection of complex traits and marker assisted selection (MAS). A combination of RFLP, AFLP and SSRP markers are in use for genotypic analysis. For perennial ryegrass, reference genetic map construction is being performed in a testcross family. Perennial ryegrass SSR (LPSSR) loci which are polymorphic in this cross have been assigned to the genetic map in addition to AFLP and RFLP loci contributed from the activities of the International Lolium Genome Initiative (ILGI). Trait-specific families have been developed for the detection and tagging of genes/QTLs for crown rust resistance, drought tolerance and water-soluble carbohydrate content. Progress in phenotypic and genotypic analysis of these families will be described. The consolidation of genetic map data across populations will allow the expansion of the perennial ryegrass map. In white clover, a reference genetic map based on SSR loci is being developed in order to provide a suite of framework markers for the mapping of key agronomic traits. A reference F2 family has been obtained based on the mating of two divergent inbred lines. The current status of the white clover map will be described.