Marker-assisted backcrossing for recovery of recurrent parent genome from a cross between MR264 and Pongsu Seribu 2

N Hasan1, M Y Rafii2,3, A R Harun 4, N S Alı5, N Mazlan6 and S Abdullah7

1Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

2Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

3Department of Crop Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

4Agrotechnology & Bioscience Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

5Department of Plant Protection, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

6Department of Agriculture Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia,

7Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Corresponding author email: aishahnh@uitm.edu.my

Abstract. Background selection is the most crucial steps in marker-assisted backcrossing breeding (MABC). The primary goal in this selection is to develop a backcross progenies carrying interest gene with maximum recovery of recurrent genome which can be used after many generations. MABC is the most significance technique to recover the recurrent genome within 2 to 3 generation and minimize the drawbacks of conventional breeding. In this study, MABC technique was adopted to cross between MR264, a local rice variety of Malaysia (susceptible to blast) with Pongsu Seribu 2, a traditional variety possess resistant genes (donor) to produce a new blast resistant rice variety. Present study identify the introgression of blast resistance genes, Pi-kh and Pi7(t) which tightly linked to markers, RM5961 and RM206. Out of 375 SSR markers, 72 polymorphic SSR markers between parental lines were used to monitor the recovery of recurrent parent genome in backcross population. Backcross populations, BC1F1 and BC2F1 revealed 76.1 to 87.9% and 86.5 to 95.2% of recurrent parent genome recovery in background analysis, respectively. The average percentage of recipient genome recovery in selected BC2F2 lines was 94.4%, which indicated a close similarity at phenotypic resemblance to the recurrent parent MR264. Seven homozygous plants carrying blast resistance genes having maximum genetic backgrounds of MR264 were selected as improved blast resistant lines for development of blast resistant variety. Dendogram analysis revealed that the selected BC2F2 lines were clustered together with MR264 indicate a strong relationship with MR264. This study concluded the effectiveness of marker-assisted backcrossing for rapid recovery and maximizes the restoration of recurrent parent genome in backcross populations.