Automation of DNA Marker Analysis for Molecular Breeding in Crops

Abstract

Plant breeders constantly need to adapt their research to the ever-changing market needs and agricultural practices. To achieve these goals, they need to competently combine different genetically-governed characters in a genotype, this is a complex, time-consuming and labour intensive task. In modern plant breeding, molecular markers are of increasing importance, and it is today undeniable that their application inhold tremendous possibilities to increase plant breeding efficiency. While the methods are more widely adopted, the capacity for high-throughput analyses at low cost becomes crucial for their practical use. To be attractive it is necessary that molecular technology is able to promptly handle sufficiently large amounts of material at reduced costs. Automation of the analysis processes is a way to meet these requirements. In that purpose, the specific needs of molecular applications in practical plant breeding are investigated in this chapter. The particular approach of a plant breeding company to automate them, in order to increase their availability to breeding programs, is described.