Practical application of SSR-markers in flax breeding (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Flax is a promising crop oriented towards industrial use and export. Traditional breeding methods require significant time and labor resources, but modern DNA-markers such as microsatellites significantly accelerate the development of new cultivars and increase the efficiency of breeding processes. The aim of the work was to develop approaches to marker-associated breeding using SSR-markers for flax. The objects of the study were twenty-four lines of fiber flax obtained as a result of the implementation of the breeding and seed-production center project, for which genetic passports were compiled, genetic homogeneity was assessed and phylogenetic relationships were considered. DNA from 25 plants of each line was subjected to SSR analysis by PCR method using two experimental marker lines developed in Russia and Belarus. The PCR-products were detected using capillary electrophoresis with subsequent cluster analysis and construction of dendrograms. SSR-analysis revealed a high level of polymorphism: 32 alleles in the Russian and 47 in the Belarusian line, with unique alleles in individual genotypes. Intravarietal homogeneity was 76–96 % when analyzed by two lines of SSR-markers, which confirmed the genetic stability of the lines. Molecular genetic passports were formed based on the data. Cluster analysis performed for each marker set divided the lines into three main clusters, reflecting their origin. Both sets of markers showed comparable resolution, ensuring complete differentiation of samples and reliable construction of phylogenetic relationships. At the same time, the Belarusian line of markers proved effective in identifying hidden genetic variations, while the Russian line is preferable for monitoring stability and homogeneity when registering the cultivars. Further use of SSR-markers is advanced and can help in monitoring flax breeding processes and protecting the rights of plant breeders.

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