Application of DNA Markers for Genetic Improvement

Abstract

The advent of DNA markers has heralded a new era in genetics and plant breeding. DNA markers have provided valuable tools in various genetic analyses ranging from diversity, development of molecular maps, and gene/QTL mapping to the positional cloning of genes. Marker-assisted selection has the potential to pyramid favorable gene combinations for improved trait performance. Over the past two decades, considerable progress has been made in the development of genomic resources in sorghum. Development and use of new marker systems and dense maps has resulted in tagging and mapping of major genes and several quantitative traits of economic importance. QTL mapping of various agronomic, biotic, abiotic stress traits has resulted in identification of many QTL spread across the genome. Validation and fine mapping of QTL provide an opportunity to employ MAS for sorghum improvement.