Microsatellite fingerprints of Louisiana sugarcane varieties and breeding lines

Forty-eight sugarcane varieties and breeding lines from the USDA-Louisiana collection were fingerprinted with the microsatellite markers, SMC334BS, SMC336BS and MCSA068G08, using a capillary electrophoresis system. A high degree of polymorphism was revealed by each of these three microsatellites with multiple alleles present. There were seven alleles for SMC334BS, six for SMC336BS, and 12 for MCSA068G08. Twenty-three of these varieties and breeding lines were fingerprinted with an additional six microsatellites: SMC286CS, SMC713BS, MCSA042E08, MCSA053C10, mSSCIR5, and mSSCIR33. Varying numbers of alleles were produced by each of these microsatellite markers. There were 10 alleles for SMC286CS, eight for SMC713BS, four for MCSA053C10, five for MCSA042E08, six for mSSCIR5, and 15 for mSSCIR33. Markers prefixed with SMC and mSSCIR were derived from genomic DNA and in general, showed a higher degree of polymorphism than did MCSA primers, that were derived from EST sequences. These microsatellite fingerprints allowed the assignment of genotypes and an assessment of genetic diversity among the Louisiana sugarcane varieties and breeding lines evaluated. Use of these fingerprints will help sugarcane breeders determine the genetic lineage and identify of varieties, establish ownership and select true hybrids. These fingerprints will also be used as genetic markers in allele transmission and mapping studies.