SSR Marker Analysis of F3 Mapping Population involving Pokkali and IR28 for Salt Tolerance

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses detrimental to crop production. Amazingly about 25 million acres of land are lost due to salinity each year throughout the world. Nearly 47% of saline, 20% of sodic (alkali) and 7% of acid sulphate soils of the tropical Asia comes from India. In India, there are about 12 mha of land affected with salinity and alkalinity and nearly 4 mha affected with salinity alone. Under such scenario, increased salt tolerance of crops is needed to sustain food production in many regions in the world including India. In the present study, molecular profiling of F3 mapping population generated from a cross involving salt tolerant Pokkali and salt susceptible IR28 were done using micro satellite markers (SSR) and phenotype were studied under simulated conditions. Assessment of their genetic diversity through molecular profiling involving SSR markers and linking salt tolerance profile showed salt tolerance is a polygenic character. The status of phenotypic marker was also found through the present study. Salt tolerant gene(s) in F3 generation was tagged along with concurrent phenotype in response to stimulated saline condition. The result showed ample polymorphism. Considering the degree of polymorphism among the mapping population, it was concluded that SSR markers are efficient in tagging gene(s) for salt tolerance in rice. Further, such technology will be useful in marker aided selection in crops towards improving tolerance to salt or any kind of abiotic stress prevailing in different agro-ecological regions of India.