From: owner-sard-room3
To: SARD-ROOM3
Subject: Paper/Carlos F.Quiros
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 1995 8:03AM


APPLICATION OF CHROMOSOME MARKERS TO GERMPLASM CONSERVATION AND
CHARACTERIZATION

Carlos F. Quiros
Department of Vegetable Crops
U. of California
Davis, CA 95616, USA

(Summary)

Summary:

A brief overview of genetic markers for germplasm characterization is presented. These include biochemical and DNA-based markers which accomplish the task effectively because often their expression reflects the actual genotype of the individuals in the population, free of environmental influences. Furthermore, these markers are neutral, not affecting the fitness or survival of the plants. Genetic markers can be used for the elimination of duplicates, the determination of the genetic variability of the samples in relation to their breeding systems, and the optimal number of individuals to use for maintaining the genetic variability when the seed is increased. Morphological traits are not reliable for this determination because the resulting phenotypes are the consequence of genotypic and environmental interactions.