Abstract

Reading Banana Genome Book for Putative Salt Tolerance Associated DNA Markers

V Arunachalam, Principal Scientist, ICAR - Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute

One-third of banana growing soils of India are prone to damage due to salinity in the soil or irrigation water. Banana plant is highly sensitive to salt stress hence irrigation water with EC of 3.4 and 5.7 microSiemens per cm result in 25 and 50 % potential yield loss respectively [1]. The amplified fragment of 240 bp generated by random primer OPA02 is specific to salt tolerant mutant [2]. In silico analysis of RAPD OPA02-240 priming sites in banana genome led to two iSCAR (in silico Sequence Characterised Amplifiable Region) primers (Pr032359362-Pr032359363) [3]. Genomic DNA samples representing global mini-core germplasm set were procured from Global Musa Genomic Consortium. These DNA samples were assayed by PCR genotyping with the salt tolerance associated markers designed as above. The PCR products from target bands were eluted, purified and sent for sequencing. The sequences obtained were matched with nucleotide sequence database of banana genome hub. One of the sequences matched with phenolic glucoside malonyl-transferase 2-like gene located on chromosome 4.