IDENTIFICATION OF TRUE HYBRID PROGENIES IN PEANUT USING SIMPLE SEQUENCE REPEAT (SSR) MARKERS

Confirmation of hybridity of F1 hybrids is the key to success in any crop breeding programme. Selection of hybrids from selfed plants is one of the major constraints in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) due to poor phenotypic variability, especially when parents are selected based on various biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study SSR markers assay was used for confirmation of hybridity among F1 plants which was further advanced for development of RILs. A total of 95 crossroads were obtained by hybridizing two peanut genotypes ICG4747 and TMV2NLM, contrasting for Specific leaf area and SPAD Chlorophyll Meter Reading. Out of 200 SSR primers, 42 primers were found polymorphic between parents. Of which 14 primers differentiated the heterozygous (F1s) from the homozygotes efficiently. Out of 90 F1 plants, 11 plants were confirmed as a hybrid using highly informative 14 SSR markers. SSR markers were very much useful for identification of true hybrid seedlings in the early stage of growth and genotyping of the progenies more accurately for gene mapping.