Molecular Marker: Genetic Improvement and Conservation of Industrial Crops

Molecular markers are of paramount importance in the field of crop enhancement as they facilitate the recognition and selection of favourable characteristics in plant species. The markers under consideration are distinct DNA sequences that possess the capability to determine genetic variants linked to significant qualities, including disease resistance, production as well as characteristics. Plant breeders can utilise them as a potent technique to expedite the advancement of enhanced agricultural cultivars. Most commonly used markers in crop improvement programmes include Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and RFLP. The essential ideas of marker polymorphism, agronomic trait-marker linkage, genetic mutations, dominant or co-dominant mode of inheritance and diversity have all been thoroughly explained, illuminating the broad principles of molecular marker approaches in this chapter.