Genetic linkage map of a wheat x spelt cross

We constructed a genetic map of a cross between the Swiss winter wheat (Tri ticum aestivum L.) variety Forno and the Swiss winter spelt (Triticum spelt a L.) variety Oberkulmer. For the linkage analysis, 176 polymorphic RFLP pr obes and nine microsatellites were tested on 204 Fg recombinant inbred line s (RILs) of Forno x Oberkulmer revealing 242 segregating marker loci. Thirt y five percent of these loci showed significant (P > 0.05) deviation from a 1:1 segregation, and the percentage of Forno alleles ranged from 21% to 83 % for individual marker loci. Linkage analysis was performed with the progr am MAPMAKER using the Haldane mapping function. Using a LOD threshold of 10 , we obtained 37 linkage groups. After finding the best order of marker loc i within linkage groups by multi-point analysis we assembled the linkage gr oups into 23 larger units by lowering the LOD threshold. All except one of the 23 new linkage groups could be assigned to physical chromosomes or chro mosome arms according to hybridisation patterns of nullitetrasomic lines of Chinese Spring and published wheat maps. This resulted in a genetic map co mprising 230 marker loci and spanning 2469 cM. Since the analysed populatio n is segregating for a wide range of agronomically important traits: this g enetic map is an ideal basis for the identification of quantitative trait l oci (QTLs) for these traits.