Genetic Linkage Map Construction in Pearl Millet Using SSR MarkersCDurgarajuauthorR KSrivastavaauthorNReddyauthorPKatiyarauthorK DKilaruauthorFor pearl millet production in the semi-arid tropics, Sclerospora graminicola is a major biotic constraint causes Downy mildew. The pathogen is heterothallic and frequent recombination leads to evolution of new virulent populations. Identification of resistance to new virulent isolates is a prerequisite for resistance breeding. A very good understanding of ability to manipulate oligogenic and quantitative traits is offered to plant breeders by recent advances in genetic marker technology. In the present investigation genotypic data generated for a total of 88 marker loci (39 Genomic SSRs and 49 EST SSRs) were used to construct a linkage map of the pearl millet mapping population of 188 F8 RIL progenies based on the cross ICMB 89111-P6 x ICMB 90111-P6. A skeleton linkage map of seven linkage groups with a total map length of 725.5 cM (Haldane units) was constructed using data from 74 marker loci for 188 RILs using JoinMap at LOD threshold value of 5.0 and MapMaker/Exp version 3.0b and map was drawn using Map Chart 2.2. The map length of individual linkage groups ranged from a minimum of 32.1cM (LG3) to a maximum of 140.2 cM (LG1). The average inter marker distance was 9.8 cM, with an average density of 0.102 markers/cM. The total number of mapped loci per linkage group (LG) ranged from 5 on LG3 to 23 on LG1.Plant GeneticsPearl MilletGenetics and Genomics2017Vital Biotech, IndiaArticle