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Application of Molecular Marker Assayed Paternity in a White Clover Breeding Program
Author(s) -
George R.M.,
Jahufer M.Z.Z.,
Barrett B.A.,
Griffiths A.G.,
Woodfield D.R.,
Hofmann R.W.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2017.06.0390
Subject(s) - biology , selection (genetic algorithm) , lolium perenne , trifolium repens , genetic marker , molecular marker , marker assisted selection , genetic gain , breeding program , genetics , plant breeding , perennial plant , genetic variation , agronomy , gene , cultivar , artificial intelligence , computer science
The use of molecular tools, coupled with improvements in paternity assignment computation, offer breeders a cost‐effective and readily implementable breeding tool to improve the rate of genetic gain in forages. Molecular marker paternity assays may improve genetic gain in white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) half‐sib family breeding programs by utilizing a larger coefficient of additive genetic variation. To evaluate the potential to improve breeding outcomes by use of a molecular marker paternity assay in allotetraploid white clover (2 n = 4 x = 32), seven single‐locus, homoeologue‐specific simple sequence repeat markers were genotyped and analyzed on 1277 half‐sib progeny and their 20 parents from a polycross pollinated by bumble bees ( Bombus sp.). Paternity was assigned to 88.9% of progeny using a likelihood algorithm implemented in Cervus. Estimates of additive genetic variances from multisite, space‐planted field experiments established in perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) were used to predict selection responses. Joint maternal and molecular‐marker‐assayed paternal half‐sib family selection offered improved theoretical selection gains relative to conventional maternal half‐sib family selection for herbage yield and trifoliate center leaflet width. The estimated selection responses based on empirical parameters demonstrated the theoretical wisdom of incorporating molecular‐marker‐assayed paternity in white clover breeding programs as an effective tool to improve selection responses per cycle of selection.