Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers for mapping the chickpea genome

Three interspecific crosses were developed using Cicer arietinum (ICC 4918) as the female parent and wild Cic er species [C, reticulartum - JM 2100, JM 2106 and C. echinospermum - ICCW 44] as the male parent. Cicer arietinum (ICC 4918) x C. reticulatum (JM 2100) cross produced the largest number of F, plants and was chosen for linkage mapping using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. A partial linkage map was constructed based upon the segregation of 36 RAPD markers obtained by amplification using 35 primers. The linkage map consists of two linkage groups with 17 linked markers covering a total of 464.9 cM. Analyses also revealed association of three morphological traits with linked RAPD markers. Out of seven morphological traits tested for association with linked markers in the segregating plants, four Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected for the trait leaf length and three QTLs each for the traits leaf width and erect plant habit.