Molecular marker-based genetic analysis of pasture and turf grasses

Abstract

Molecular genetic marker systems have been developed for implementation in the breeding of a number of pasture and turf grass species. A reference genetic map for perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) has been generated through the activities of the International Lolium Genome Initiative (ILGI), containing conserved restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) loci for comparative genetic analysis with other Poaceae species and simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci for map alignment across multiple pedigrees. Trait-specific genetic mapping in perennial ryegrass and related species is being performed in a number of ILGI-affiliated laboratories, allowing the detection of quantitative trait loc..