Genetics and molecular markers for anthocyanin pigmentation in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link)

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to track the inheritance and identify the expressed sequence tag (EST) ‐ simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker (s) associated with the anthocyanin pigments in barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp.). The F1 and F2 generations were developed using the anthocyanin pigmented genotype ACM 331 (purple inflorescence) and three non‐pigmented genotypes, ACM 333, ACM 335 and MA 10 (green inflorescence). The F1 plants of all the three crosses had medium purple inflorescence indicating that purple pigment was partially dominant over green inflorescence. The segregation ratio of F2 generation is 1:2:1 (purple:medium purple:green) further confirmed that purple is partially dominant over the green and governed by one gene. Fifty‐one EST‐SSR markers were used to screen the pigmented and non‐pigmented bulks of the F2 population. A marker, BMESSR 39 associated with the anthocyanin pigment trait was obtained, which revealed a high correlation with the anthocyanin pigment present in the F2 population consisting of 430 individuals (85.10%) and 80 barnyard millet genotypes (63.75%). The information obtained in this study could pave way for breeding anthocyanin pigmented genotypes and genetic studies in barnyard millet.