Mapping populations for self-fertilizing crop plants

Abstract

In genetics and breeding, mapping populations are the tools used to identify the genetic loci controlling measurable phenotypic traits. For self-pollinating species, F2 populations and recombinant inbred lines (RILs) are used; for self-incompatible, highly heterozygous species, F1 populations are mostly the tools of choice. Backcross populations and doubled haploid lines are a possibility for both types of plants. The inheritance of specific regions of DNA is followed by molecular markers that detect DNA sequence polymorphisms. For map-based cloning of a gene, populations of a large size provide the resolution required. The type of mapping population to be used depends on the reproductive mode of the plant to be analyzed. In this respect, the plants fall into the main classes of self-fertilizers and self-incompatibles. In this review, we describe the mapping population for self fertilizing crops, types and problems in genetic mapping in detail.