Phenotypic and Molecular Screening of Different Genotypes of Rice based on the Markers Related to the Aroma Trait

Grain quality is one of the most important goals of rice breeding. One of the important traits in rice grain quality is its aroma, which is the result of the expression of recessive mutations of the OsBadh2 gene and determines the economic value of rice. In this research, the phenotypic and molecular screening of 50 different genotypes of rice was done based on the markers related to the aroma trait.

In this research, 50 local and improved genotypes of rice were prepared from the collection of the Rice Research Institute of Iran, and the aroma trait was based on biochemical evaluation related to phenotypic selection based on the intensity of the aroma created in the treatment with 1.7 potassium hydroxide solution percentage and genotypic selection were done based on the band pattern created from the amplified gene sequence by using 3 pairs of specific primers (Badh2, Badex7-5 and Nksbad2) contiguous with the gene locations controlling the scent trait. To analyze the correlation between genes and the observed phenotype, the generalized linear logistic regression model was used.

Based on phenotypic evaluation, 31 aromatic cultivars and 19 non-aromatic cultivars were identified, which were in full agreement with the data obtained from genotypic screening, and it was found that Badh2 and Nkshad2 markers are able to predict and distinguish aromatic and non-aromatic cultivars with high confidence and accuracy.

Badh2 and Nksbad2 markers can be used as efficient markers in genetic localization of diverging populations for fragrance as a Codominant marker instead of a phenotypic evaluation method.