Review Paper:
Role of molecular
markers in improving abiotic stress tolerance in agricultural crops
Nanda Satyabrata, Kumar Gagan and Hussain Sajid
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 17(1); 172-178;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/1701rjbt172178; (2022)
Abstract
Molecular markers are one of the expandable inventions in agricultural science.
After decades of their introduction, these still are an integral part of crop genotyping
and crop improvement. The present scenario offers to choose from different molecular
marker types based on their principle, methodologies and extent of applications.
Several markers have been used to identify and map abiotic stress related genes
and quantitative trait loci (QTL) onto the chromosomes of different crops. The genetic
mapping of these identified genetic elements by using different markers provides
the scope of selective breeding in the agricultural crops to tackle abiotic stresses.
Moreover, recent progress achieved in genetics, molecular breeding and genomic selection
has facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the molecular markers and unlocked
new insights into marker-assisted breeding. The advent of new technologies like
association mapping (AM) and genome-wide association studies has unveiled the highthroughput
application of molecular markers. In this review, a focused representation of the
use of different molecular markers in the identification of tolerant crop genotypes
and associated genes/QTLs against major abiotic stresses, including salinity, drought
and temperature has been provided. Additionally, the application of molecular markers
in AM and AM-based breeding of some important agricultural crops has been discussed.
