Genetic mapping of hypervariable minisatellite sequences in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Minisatellites, or DNA finger-printing sequences, have been utilized in animal linkage studies for several years but have not been used as markers for plant genome mapping. In animal genome mapping they have resulted in limited success because they are evenly dispersed in some species but are often clustered near telomeric regions, as observed on human chromosomes. The purpose of the present study was to generate DNA fingerprints utilizing several rice-derived minisatellites containing different core sequences and numbers of repeat units, followed by assessing their potential for use as genetic markers when I-napped to a lice recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. Sites of segregating minisatellite loci were mapped onto 11 of the 12 rice Rn linkage maps. The implications for the use of rice minisatellite core sequences as genetic markers on linkage maps in lice are discussed.