683 PB 221 IDENTIFICATION OF MOLECULAR MARKERS LINKED TO LOW-TEMPERATURE RESPONSES

Abstract

Identification of the genes involved in freezing tolerance in oilseed Erussica could lead to genetic improvement of winter survival of this crop and other species, as well as provide greater understanding of the basis of cold stress tolerance in plants. We developed a genetic linkage map for B. rapa using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and identified molecular markers which are linked to genes controlling vernalization requirement and freezing tolerance. We mapped the location of a group of cold-regulated (`cor') genes from Arabidopsis thaliana in this population and determined their association with freezing tolerance and vernalization requirement. We developed genetically fixed, recombinant inbred lines of B. rapa to assay the physiological processes involved in these cold responses. Specifically, we measured the differences in lipid composition of the plasma membranes of acclimated and nonacclimated plants of a subset of this population. We will determine if the genes involved in the physiological responses to cold temperature are also associated with the acquisition of freezing tolerance.