Scanning RNA-Seq and RAD-Seq approach to develop SNP markers closely linked to MALE STERILITY 1 (MS1) in Cryptomeria japonica D. Don

Cryptomeria japonica is a major forestry tree species in Japan. Male sterility of the species is caused by a recessive gene, which shows dysfunction of pollen development and results in no dispersed pollen. Because the pollen of C. japonica induces pollinosis, breeding of pollen-free C. japonica is desired. In this study, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers located at 1.78 and 0.58 cM to a male sterility locus (MS1) were identified from an analysis of RNA-Seq and RAD-Seq, respectively. SNPs closely linked to MS1 were first scanned by a method similar to MutMap, where a type of index was calculated to measure the strength of the linkage between a marker sequence and MS1. Linkage analysis of selected SNP markers confirmed a higher efficiency of the current method to construct a partial map around MS1. Allele-specific PCR primer pair for the most closely linked SNP with MS1 was developed as a codominant marker, and visualization of the PCR products on an agarose gel enabled rapid screening of male sterile C. japonica. The allele-specific primers developed in this study would be useful for establishing the selection of male sterile C. japonica.