Differentiation of Sugar Beet Varieties Using SSR Markers: A Tool to Create Promising Hybrids

The goal of this study was a molecular genetic passportization of the initial breeding material of sugar beet (male sterile lines, synanthous pollinators, and their hybrids). The following SSR primers were used: Unigene 24 552, Unigene 2305, Unigene 17 623, Unigene 14 805, and Unigene 62 524. The length range of the obtained DNA fragments varied within 100–3000 bp, and up to 11 polymorphic bands per genotype were amplified. The maximum Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) value was revealed for the Unigene 17 623 (PIC = 0.88), Unigene 2305 (PIC = 0.84), and Unigene 14 805 (PIC = 0.85) loci that provided a possibility to differentiate sugar beet breeding material. Using five of the tested SSR markers, the molecular genetic passportization of 26 genotypes of valuable breeding samples of this crop was carried out that allowed their identification and certification for further use in a marker-assisted selection. The calculated genetic distances between male sterile forms and synanthous pollinators varied from 2.236 to 4.796. Parent samples located at considerable genetic distances from each other were recommended for use in creating heterotic hybrids.