Study of Pod Length Trait in Doubled Haploid Brassica napus Population by Molecular Markers

Pod length is one of the effective components on canola yield selection on the basis of which can increase not only the seed yield but also the oil yield. Molecular markers associated with long pod loci were identified in a doubled haploid population derived from a cross between the canola lines ‘Quantum’ (long pod) × ‘China A’ (short pod) using RAPD and bulked segregant analysis. A molecular marker linkage map of 37 loci for this population was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling pod length of which two markers in two unlinked loci were selected by using an interval mapping model which explained 22% of phenotypic variation for pod length in this population. Selection for markers at two loci for increasing pod length resulted in a group of doubled haploid lines with an average 112 mm pod length that increased 15% of whole population mean. This shows that using these markers in the breeding program will enhance the breeding of long pod canola varieties