Development of SCAR Marker Linked to Sex Determination Locus in<i> Trichosanthes dioica</i>

Abstract

Pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.), a perennial herb of family Cucurbitaceae, is morphologically different from the other cucurbits due to its dioecism and vegetative means of propagation. Breeding in pointed gourd is less viable due to poor germination, vegetative propagation mean and dioecy. A reliable method for determining the gender of pointed gourd at seedling stage would facilitate breeding programs. With this aim, RAPD markers were used to identify a sex linked marker. RAPD profiles with 104 primers were analyzed in 10 male and 44 female plants for presence/absence of specific bands. Two sex-specific fragments, OPC05 1000 and OPK07 300 , associated with maleness and femaleness, respectively, were converted in SCAR markers. Based on the sequence of OPC5 1000 and OPK-07 300 , five and one pair of specific forward and reverse SCAR markers were designed, respectively. Among five male specific SCAR, only one marker (SCF/R-3 628 ) discriminated both sexes. Thus, SCAR designed from RAPD fragment could be used as an effective and reliable marker for early sex diagnosis and to reduce both time and costs associated with breeding in T. dioeca.