Single nucleotide polymorphic marker enabling rapid and early screening for the homoeolocus of beta-amylase-R1: a gene linked to copper efficiency on 5RL.

This study describes the development of a PCR marker to detect the beta-amylase-R1 gene of rye. It provides an easy and rapid means for the identification of plants containing the beta-amylase-R1. Because rye chromosome segments do not normally recombine with wheat chromosomes, this marker provides a means for tracking all linked genes on that alien 5RL chromosome segment. Reaction conditions were optimised for an annealing temperature of 60 degrees C for a high stringency. The reaction was also optimised for low reaction volumes reducing the cost of the reagents required for the reaction. This PCR test can be used in breeding or mapping programs for the rapid screening of progeny containing translocations of 5RL and hence select for the copper efficiency trait of rye.