VALIDATION OF DNA MARKERS FOR SEMI-DWARF GENES IN TRITICALE (TRITICOSECALE WITTM.)
Height reduction genes of wheat and rye are well-studied and molecular markers have been developed for identification of these genes. However, exploiting of these markers in triticale has not been investigated yet. Wheat and rye subgenomes in triticale genome can significantly affect the use efficiency of DNA markers and hinder the interpretation of obtained results. The possibility and efficiency of wheat and rye DNA markers utilization in triticale have been shown in our study. Primers developed by Ellis et al. [16] for detection of allele Rht-B1b in wheat varieties can be used in triticale. Non-specific amplification with rye genome which would influence the interpretation of the data has not been revealed. To determine allele Rht-B1e in the small number of hexaploid triticale samples both markers developed by Pearce et al. [26] and by Li et al. [24] can be used, but for the use of the former more electrophoresis time is needed. However, in breeding we recommend using combination of the following primers: BF/WR3 for identification Rht-B1A allele and NF.BF.2/Me.R for identification Rht-B1e allele. Primers for the rye microsatellite locus REMS1218 can also be used in triticale. Non-specific amplification from wheat genomes has not been identified. But we found two types of amplification which did not get reported previously. Further research is required to identify the Hl gene in samples with new types of amplification.