Accelerated domestication of Australian native grass species using molecular tools

In this study the rice (Oryza sativa) genome sequence was used for comparison with corresponding genes in Microlaena stipoides, a distant relative of rice. M. stipoides whole genome sequence was assembled to the rice genome to generate species specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for putative BADH2, GW2 and Hd6 homologues in M. stipoides. Pooled PCR amplicons were generated and then screened using the Illumina Genome Analyzer II to discover single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These SNPs were then validated by Sequenom iPlex MassARRAY. Potentially useful SNPs can be used in establishing new breeding lines of M. stipoides.