Optimization of the Use of Micro-satellite Molecular Markers in Weed Science Studies

Although more specific molecular markers have been developed, micro-satellite markers have a great potential to be used in weed science, because of their increasing availability to other species and quality of the information provided. The conventional use of micro-satellite molecular markers is laborious and expensive. The objective of this study was to describe the M13 tailed primer method for the optimization of the use of micro-satellite molecular markers, using as example, a study of hybrid identification between cultivated rice and red rice. Cultivated rice and red rice plants, as well as a hybrid originated from the artificial crossing of these plants were used as model. The M13 tailed primer method consists in the synthesis of the forward primer with the desired sequence and the addition of the sequence of a universal primer which corresponds to the tail. Amplification detection is performed on automated capillary electrophoresis equipment by using a labeled universal primer in the PCR. The system developed was effective in identifying the hybridization between the cultivated rice and red rice and it was useful, for example, in studies of gene flow of resistance to herbicides and introgression of traits related to the adaptation between these plants. The M13 tailed primer method allowed the use of several micro-satellite molecular markers from a single fluorescent marker and made multiplex analyses possible. The increased availability and knowledge of molecular techniques can provide better results in several studies related to weed species with little availability of specific molecular markers.