Identification of a sex-specific SCAR marker in dioecious Pandanus fascicularis L. (Pandanaceae)

Abstract

Pandanus fascicularis L. is a dioecious plant native to South Asia with significant numbers in coastal areas. With the aim of distinguishing male genotypes from female genotypes early in the vegetative growth phase, the current study was initiated using molecular markers. Based on the principle of bulked segregant analysis, the sampled plants were separated into 2 bulks depending on their sex. Of the 89 random amplified polymorphic DNA and inter-simple sequence repeat markers used, one decamer (OPO-08) consistently amplified a 1263 bp band in the males that was absent in the females. Its DNA sequence did not exhibit significant similarity to previously characterized sequences, but the presence of mononucleotide and dinucleotide repeats suggested that it was a repeat-rich region. A sequence-characterized amplified region marker (MSSRF-01) designed for this fragment continued to amplify the specific allele in all the male plants. Southern hybridization performed using the sex-specific fragment as a probe yielded results consistent with those previously obtained by polymerase chain reaction. These results strongly suggest that MSSRF-01 is a male-specific molecular marker. With no information available on the presence of sex chromosomes in Pandanus, this marker can be used to differentiate the sexes.

Identification and validation of sex-linked SCAR markers in dioecious Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae)

“…However, the remaining 46% of the sequence did not show any significant sequence similarity. Vinod et al (2007) also did not find significant sequence homology with sex-specific fragment of P. fascicularis L. but showed 40-50 bp homology with genomic clones of grapevine, mouse, zebrafish, human, etc. Previous attempts to identify sex-linked molecular markers in seabuckthorn have met with variable success.…”

“…A sex-linked SCAR marker developed in B. dioica was perfectly linked to males in B. dioica from northern Europe (Oyama et al 2009). A SCAR marker developed in P. fascicularis also was perfectly linked to male plants (Vinod et al 2007).…”

“…Financial resources and valuable time can be saved if undesired male/female plants can be discarded at an early stage of research trials and commercial plantation. DNA-based markers have been widely used in view of its advantages over morphological and biochemical markers for sex determination in plants Bryonia dioica (Oyama et al 2009); Carica papaya L. (Deputy et al 2002); Pandanus fascicularis L. (Vinod et al 2007); Salix viminalis L. (Gunter et al 2003); Asparagus officinalis L. (Nakayama et al 2006); Actinidia deliciosa (Shirkot et al 2002).…”

Sex-oriented research on dioecious crops of Indian subcontinent: an updated review

“…For early determination of sex, Vinod et al (2007) converted a 1263 bp amplicon generated from a male-specific RAPD primer (OPD-08) into an SCAR marker (MSSR-01) of 976 bp size in P. fascicularis L. Another group reported two male-specific RAPD markers viz., OPA-12 and OPN-18 producing 1150 and 600 bp fragment, respectively, in P. tectorius Parkinson (Panda et al 2010).…”

Molecular confirmation of sex in regenerated plantlets of spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb. Ex. wild) by using RAPD markers

“…Sex determination in papaya by using PCR based RAPD molecular marker was reported by several authors from various countries like in Japan (Ursaki et al, 2002), Hawaii (Deputy et al, 2002), Brazil (Lemos et al, 2002) and India (Parasnis et al, 1999). In Salix viminalis (Alstrom-Rapaport et al, 1998), Encephalartos natalensis (Prakash & Staden, 2006), Borassus flabellifer , Simmondsia chinensis (Agrawal et al, 2007) and Pandanus fasciculalris (Vinod et al, 2007) also sex is determined by using PCR based RAPD molecular marker.…”