Segregation distortion in doubled haploid lines of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) detected by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

A total of 147 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (including 86 barley and 61 wheat microsatellite markers) were tested for their segregation in a doubled haploid (DH) and an F-2 population of barley. The DH population consisted of 71 doubled haploid lines, developed from F-1 plants of a cross between Tadmor and WI2291 using isolated microspore culture technique. A genetic linkage map consisting of 43 microsatellite markers was constructed using the DH population. Particularly on chromosome 4H microsatellite markers showed distorted segregation ratios. Segregation of DH lines based on molecular markers were compared with segregation of 92 F-2 lines from the same cross. The proportion of loci deviating from the expected monogenic segregation ratios in the DH population was significantly higher (19/43 loci, 44%) than in the F-2 population (7/43 loci, 16%). The deviation was biased towards the WI2291 parent alleles. In line with this observation, WI2291 was found to perform better than Tadmor in regenerating green plantlets with the isolated microspore-culture technique.