Sequence-Specific Amplified Polymorphism (SSAP) and Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) Markers in Zea mays.

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile, recurring DNA sequences scattered throughout genome and have a large impact on genome structure and function. Several genetic marker techniques were developed to exploit their ubiquitous nature. Sequence-specific amplified polymorphism (SSAP) is a TE-based genetic marker system that has been used in various purposes such as measuring genetic relatedness between species, deciphering the population structures, molecular tagging for agronomic development in marker-assisted breeding (MAS). In addition to SSAP, sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) from the SSAP markers provides an added advantage in identifying qualitative traits. Once developed SCAR markers are efficient, fast, and reliable method for genetic evaluations. These methods can be useful especially for the crops which have no genetic sequence information. With improved discriminatory ability they offer access to dynamic and polymorphic regions of genome. These techniques can be useful in breeding programs to improve or develop high yielding crops.