Unlocking Genetic Diversity and Germplasm Characterization with Molecular Markers: Strategies for Crop Improvement
Aniket Bunjkar, Puneet Walia, Sanjeet Singh Sandal
Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology · pp. 160–173 · Published 8 May 2024
10.9734/jabb/2024/v27i6873Abstract
Molecular markers have emerged as the most useful tools in assessment of genetic diversity and characterizing germplasm, for crop improvement. This review paper comprehensively analyzes the applications of molecular markers in diversity analysis and germplasm characterization. It underscores the significance of genetic diversity as the bedrock for plant breeding programs, enabling the development of improved varieties with desirable attributes such as higher yields, stress tolerance, and enhanced nutritional profiles. The paper provides an overview of various types of molecular markers, including hybridization-based markers (e.g., RFLPs) and PCR-based markers (e.g., RAPDs, AFLPs, SSRs, and SNPs). It discusses marker selection strategies, emphasizing the consideration of factors like polymorphism, informativeness, and the potential for multiplexing and high-throughput genotyping. Diversity analysis techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis methods (UPGMA and Neighbor-Joining), and population structure analysis (model-based approaches like STRUCTURE), are detailed. These methods enable the assessment of genetic relationships, identification of subpopulations, and selection of diverse parents based on molecular marker data. The review further explores the applications of molecular markers in germplasm management, conservation, and utilization. It discusses the role of markers in targeted introgression of desirable traits from diverse sources, as well as the integration of genotypic and phenotypic data for association mapping, genomic prediction, and selection. Additionally, the paper addresses emerging technologies, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the integration of molecular markers with other omics data. It also highlights the practical applications and impact of molecular markers in crop improvement programs, including marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection, and the development of genetically modified crops. Finally, the review outlines challenges and future perspectives, including limitations0 of current technologies, the potential of emerging techniques like NGS, and the integration of molecular markers with other omics approaches for a comprehensive understanding of complex traits.
References (63)
- 1 The neighbor-joining method: a new method for reconstructing phylogenetic trees. [DOI]
- 2 Inference of Population Structure Using Multilocus Genotype Data [DOI]
- 3 DNA polymorphisms amplified by arbitrary primers are useful as genetic markers [DOI]
- 4 AFLP: a new technique for DNA fingerprinting [DOI]
- 5 Principal components analysis corrects for stratification in genome-wide association studies [DOI]
- 6 Analysis of Gene Diversity in Subdivided Populations [DOI]
- 7 Construction of a genetic linkage map in man using restriction fragment length polymorphisms.
- 8 Prediction of Total Genetic Value Using Genome-Wide Dense Marker Maps [DOI]
- 9 Fingerprinting genomes using PCR with arbitrary primers [DOI]
- 10 PowerMarker: an integrated analysis environment for genetic marker analysis [DOI]
- 11 An economic method for the fluorescent labeling of PCR fragments [DOI]
- 12 Genome-wide genetic marker discovery and genotyping using next-generation sequencing [DOI]
- 13 Breeding Technologies to Increase Crop Production in a Changing World [DOI]
- 14 Hypervariability of simple sequences as a general source for polymorphic DNA markers [DOI]
- 15 Genome-wide association studies of 14 agronomic traits in rice landraces [DOI]
- 16 A hypervariable microsatellite revealed by in vitro amplification of a dinucleotide repeat within the cardiac muscle actin gene.
- 17 Genomic Selection in Plant Breeding: Methods, Models, and Perspectives [DOI]
- 18 Ecological consequences of genetic diversity [DOI]
- 19 Simple sequences are ubiquitous repetitive components of eukaryotic genomes [DOI]
- 20 Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Crop Plants—Salient Statistical Tools and Considerations [DOI]
- 21 Genetics and analysis of quantitative traits [DOI]
- 22 Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping using Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP): overview of the technology and its application in crop improvement [DOI]
- 23 Current trends in microsatellite genotyping [DOI]
- 24 Multiplex PCR: Critical Parameters and Step-by-Step Protocol [DOI]
- 25 Microsatellite markers: what they mean and why they are so useful [DOI]
- 26 DNA molecular markers in plant breeding: current status and recent advancements in genomic selection and genome editing [DOI]
- 27 Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) for whole-genome profiling of barley [DOI]
- 28 Crop Breeding Chips and Genotyping Platforms: Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives [DOI]
- 29 SNP Markers and Their Impact on Plant Breeding [DOI]
- 30 Assessing Plant Genetic Diversity by Molecular Tools [DOI]
- 31 SNPs in forensic genetics: a review on SNP typing methodologies [DOI]
- 32 Genomic prediction unifies animal and plant breeding programs to form platforms for biological discovery [DOI]
- 33 Landrace Germplasm for Improving Yield and Abiotic Stress Adaptation [DOI]
- 34 Seven common mistakes in population genetics and how to avoid them [DOI]
- 35 Recent progress and challenges in population genetics of polyploid organisms: an overview of current state‐of‐the‐art molecular and statistical tools [DOI]
- 36 Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Crop Plants - An Overview [DOI]
- 37 Genotyping-by-Sequencing in Plants [DOI]
- 38 Genetic Variation in Rare and Common Plants [DOI]
- 39 Genetic markers in the playground of multivariate analysis [DOI]
- 40 Global agricultural intensification during climate change: a role for genomics [DOI]
- 41 Molecular Markers and Marker-Assisted Breeding in Plants [DOI]
- 42 SSR marker based DNA fingerprinting and diversity study in rice (Oryza sativa. L) [DOI]
- 43 Marker-Assisted Plant Breeding: Principles and Practices [DOI]
- 44 Multiplex-Ready PCR: A new method for multiplexed SSR and SNP genotyping [DOI]
- 45 Core Hunter: an algorithm for sampling genetic resources based on multiple genetic measures [DOI]
- 46 Molecular Plant Breeding [DOI]
- 47 Genetic diversity and genetic vulnerability—an appraisal [DOI]
- 48 Empirical Tests of the Reliability of Phylogenetic Trees Constructed With Microsatellite DNA [DOI]
- 49 Analysis of genetic diversity of sugar beet genotypes using random amplified polymorphic DNA marker [DOI]
- 50 Future Prospects of Molecular Markers in Plants [DOI]
- 51 Introduction to Conservation Genetics [DOI]
- 52 Impact of Climate Change on Crops Adaptation and Strategies to Tackle Its Outcome: A Review [DOI]
- 53 Genetic Diversity, Conservation, and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources [DOI]
- 54 Genetic diversity is indispensable for plant breeding to improve crops [DOI]
- 55 Role and economic importance of crop genetic diversity in food security [DOI]
- 56 Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Derived Techniques [DOI]
- 57 Crop germplasm: Current challenges, physiological-molecular perspective, and advance strategies towards development of climate-resilient crops [DOI]
- 58 Advancing designer crops for climate resilience through an integrated genomics approach [DOI]
- 59 The Use of Molecular Marker Methods in Plants: A Review [DOI]
- 60 Applications of molecular markers in Genetic Diversity Studies of maize [DOI]
- 61 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [DOI]
- 62 Biodiversity, Definition of [DOI]
- 63 The community and ecosystem consequences of intraspecific diversity: a meta-analysis [DOI]
Cited by 68
Rasmieh Hamid, Zahra Ghorbanzadeh, Bahman Panahi · Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports · 2026
Showing 21 of 68 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- Genetic Diversity Study of Locally Isolated Bacillus thuringiensis Strains from Kuwait Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis — shares topic coverage
- Genetic Diversity and Distribution of Cassava Brown Streak Virus and Ugandan Cassava Brown Streak Virus in Major Cassava-growing Regions in Kenya — shares topic coverage
- Species-specific Loci of Three Indonesian Durio Inferred from ISSR Fingerprinting — shares topic coverage
- Diversified Strains of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Circulating in China: A Mini-overview — shares topic coverage
- Genetic Characterisation of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Populations from Kurdistan Region of Iraq via ISSR Markers — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
60
Page views
0
PDF downloads
4
Outbound clicks
68
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.