Glucose-6-phosphate Isomerase as a Marker of a Fertility Restorer Gene in Rape - Short Communication

In breeding of winter rape (Brassica napus L. var. napus) using the OGU-INRA system, based on cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), it is necessary to distinguish pollen-sterile lines, carrying CMS factors and the recessive fertility restorer alleles rfrf, from fertile lines, carrying at least one dominant restorer gene allele (Rfrf or RfRf). To grow plants till the flowering stage takes much time. The method was therefore modified using isozyme markers of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (PGI) to distinguish male sterile (MS) from male-fertile lines in early stages. Since the restorer gene is tightly linked to the markers and the PGI isozymes can be distinguished by electrophoresis, the markers can be used to identify MS rape plants in early stages. Also, homozygous and heterozygous fertility-restored plants can be separated this way. In our work we tried to optimise the distinction of pollen-fertile and pollen-sterile rape plants with PGI isozyme markers, using vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native-PAGE). The method will be used for the breeding of rapeseed with the OGU-INRA system.