GENERATION OF MAGIC POPULATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF TRV-VIGS TOOL IN BRASSICA RAPA

Abstract

Advancement in next generation sequencing techniques have led to the discovery of an abundance of DNA markers and genetic DNA sequences in genomes of interest, one of which is the important crop: Brassica rapa. However, gene function annotation is lagging behind. This due to a shortage of both genetic resources such as multiparent mapping populations and genetic tools for functional validation of genes. This study explores two ways in which this limitation was addressed. First in the initiation of a MAGIC population of Brassica rapa which will serve as a long term genetic resource for the study of complex traits. Second, in the establishment of a novel technique for gene function validation in the species: TRV-VIGS. Finally, characterisation of homologs of RPW8 in 7 Brassica rapa accessions was attempted in the form of molecular cloning and functional validation of cloned genes.