Construction of a combined sorghum linkage map from two recombinant inbred populations using AFLP, SSR, RFLP, and RAPD markers, and comparison with other sorghum maps.

Sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important crop in the semi-arid tropics that also receives growing attention in genetic research. A comprehensive reference map of the sorghum genome would be an essential research tool. Here, a combined sorghum linkage map from two recombinant inbred populations was constructed using AFLP, SSR, RFLP and RAPD markers. The map was aligned with other published sorghum maps which are briefly reviewed. The two recombinant inbred populations (RIPs) analyzed in this study consisted of 225 (RIP 1) and 226 (RIP 2) F(3:5) lines, developed from the crosses IS 9830 x E 36-1 (RIP 1) and N 13 x E 36-1 (RIP 2), respectively. The genetic map of RIP 1 had a total length of 1,265 cM (Haldane), with 187 markers (125 AFLPs, 45 SSRs, 14 RFLPs, 3 RAPDs) distributed over ten linkage groups. The map of RIP 2 spanned 1,410 cM and contained 228 markers (158 AFLPs, 54 SSRs, 16 RFLPs) in 12 linkage groups. The combined map of the two RIPs contained 339 markers (249 AFLPs, 63 SSRs, 24 RFLPs, 3 RAPDs) on 11 linkage groups and had a length of 1,424 cM. It was in good agreement with other sorghum linkage maps, from which it deviated by a few apparent inversions, deletions, and additional distal regions.