DEVELOPMENT OF A SCAR (SEQUENCE CHARACTERIZED AMPLIFIED REGION) MARKER FOR MOLECULAR TAGGING OF THE DWARF BREIZH (BZH) GENE IN BRASSICA-NAPUS L

A SCAR (sequence characterised amplified region) has been developed fo r optimal tagging of the dwarf Bzh gene in Brassica napus. A RAPD mark er named OPMO7-730 was previously found closely linked to the dwarf lo cus at 0.8 +/- 0.7 cM. The DNA band corresponding to this marker was c loned and sequenced, and specific PCR primers were designed. The PCR t est allowed us to amplify the locus corresponding to OPM07-730, With a restriction endonuclease digest and optimal electrophoresis condition s, three allelic forms of this marker have been recovered on the 40 B. napus accessions tested. The usefulness of this marker in breeding dw arf rapeseed lines is discussed.