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Molecular markers for yield components in Brassica juncea – do these assist in breeding for high seed yield?

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Abstract

A population of 112 F1-derived doubled haploid lines was produced from a reciprocal cross of Brassica juncea. The parents differed for seed quality, seed color and many agronomic traits. A detailed RFLP linkage map of this population, comprising 316 loci, had been constructed, and was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed yield and yield components, viz. siliqua length, number of seeds per siliqua, number of siliques per main raceme and 1000-seed weight. Stable and significant QTLs were identified for all these yield components except seed yield. For yield components, a selection index based on combined phenotypic and molecular data (QTL effects) could double up the efficiency of selection compared to the expected genetic advance by phenotypic selection. Selection indices for high seed yield, based on the phenotypic data of yield and yield components, could only improve the efficiency of selection by 4% of the genetic advance that can be expected from direct phenotypic selection for yield alone. Inclusion of molecular data together with the phenotypic data of yield components in the selection indices did not improve the efficiency of selection for higher seed yield. This is probably due to often negative relationships among the yield components. Most of the QTLs for yield components were compensating each other, probably due to linkage, pleiotropy or developmentally induced relationships among them. The breeding strategy for B. juncea and challenges to marker assisted selection are discussed.

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Abbreviations

MAS:

marker assisted selection

PS:

phenotypic selection

QTL:

quantitative trait loci

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Author notes

  1. Tariq Mahmood

    Present address: Alberta Research Council, PO Bag 4000, Vegreville, AB, T9C 1T4, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada

    Tariq Mahmood, Muhammad H. Rahman & Gary R. Stringam

  2. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H1, Canada

    Francis Yeh

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada

    Allen Good

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  1. Tariq Mahmood
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  2. Muhammad H. Rahman
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  3. Gary R. Stringam
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  4. Francis Yeh
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Correspondence to Tariq Mahmood.

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Mahmood, T., Rahman, M.H., Stringam, G.R. et al. Molecular markers for yield components in Brassica juncea – do these assist in breeding for high seed yield?. Euphytica 144, 157–167 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-005-5339-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-005-5339-0

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