Estimation of allele status of β-carotene hydroxylase1 in maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines

Abstract

Purpose. Assessing the polymorphism of crtRB1-3’TE gene responsible for the high content of β-carotene in maize inbred lines of Research Institute of Agrarian Business breeding.Methods. DNA isolation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. Results. Presented in the article are the research results on the allele’s status of the crtRB1 gene with a molecular marker to 3’-ending in 106 new promising inbred maize lines. Three alleles of the gene were identified: allele 1 (543 bp), allele 2 (296 bp) and allele 3 (296+875 bp). According to the electrophoretic separation of the amplification products, the allele 3 is represented by amplification products of two sizes (296 bp and 875 bp) as a result of the adherence of the forward and the two reverse primers. Allele 2 and allele 1 are formed as a result of the adherence of the forward and one reverse primer, so they are represented by amplification products of the single size. The frequency of resulting from PCR alleles was as following: 0.19 for allele 1, 0.36 for allele 2, and 0.45 for allele 3. It was found that allele 1 (543 bp) is linked with the high content of β-carotene in maize grain. According to the research results, 20 lines of maize were identified that contained an allele of 543 bp (allele 1), 38 allele of 296 bp (allele 2) and 48 alleles of 296+875 bp (allele 3).Conclusions. The crtRB1 allele status of the crtRB1-3’TE marker was analyzed. 20 lines of maize were identified which had a favorable allele for the increased accumulation of β-carotene in grain: RL25, RL35, RL39, RL46, RL47, RL50, RL56, RL63, RL64, RL67, RL73, RL74, RL77, RL83, RL85, RL110, RL111, RL112, RL116 and RL121. These lines can be used in further selective work on the high content of β‑carotene in a grain of corn.