Construction of a Molecular Linkage Map of Pearl Millet Using SSR Markers

For pearl millet production in the semi-arid tropics, Sclerospora graminicola is a major biotic causes Downy mildew. The pathogen is heterothallic and frequent recombination to evolution of new virulent populations. Identification of resistance to new virulent isolates a prerequisite for resistance breeding. A very good understanding of ability to manipulate and quantitative traits is offered to plant breeders by recent advances in genetic technology. In the present investigation, Genotypic data generated for a total of 39 loci (SSRs) were used to construct a linkage map of the pearl millet mapping population 295 Recombinant Inbred Population based on the cross 81B-P13 × AIMP 92901-deriv-P03.A linkage map of seven linkage groups with a total map length of 536.8cMwasconstructed Map Maker/Exp version 3.0b at LOD threshold value of 3.0 and map was drawn using Chart 2.2. Among all the linkage groups of the present study, linkage group1 has the map length (146.6 cM) followed by linkage group 2 (98.3 cM). The linkage group 3 (6.6 cM) has been recorded as the shortest among all seven linkage pearl millet groups this study.