Identification of a SCAR marker linked to a recessive male sterile gene (Tems) and its application in breeding of marigold (Tagetes erecta)

In marigold, an F-2 segregation population of 167 plants was constructed from a cross of a line (M525A) carrying the male sterility trait x an inbred line (f53f). In line M525A, the male sterility trait was controlled by the recessive gene, Tems. The intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) techniques combined with bulked segregant analysis were used to develop markers linked to the trait. From a survey of the 38 ISSR primers and 170 SRAP primer combinations, only one SRAP marker that was closely linked to the target trait was identified and successfully converted into sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker that was located within 2.4 cM from Tems locus. The marker was validated with five other two-type lines and in each case the male fertile plants were reliably identified. This SCAR marker therefore permits the efficient marker-assisted selection of male sterile individuals in breeding programmes of marigold and will greatly facilitate the breeding of F-1 cultivars.