Rapid isolation of plant Ty1-copia group retrotransposon LTR sequences formolecular marker studies

The terminal sequences of long-terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are a source of powerful molecular markers for linkage mapping and biodiversity studies. The major factor limiting the widespread application of LTR retrot ransposon-based molecular markers is the availability of new retrotransposo n terminal sequences. We describe a PCR-based method for the rapid isolatio n of LTR sequences of Ty1-copia group retrotransposons from the genomic DNA of potentially any higher plant species. To demonstrate the utility of thi s technique, we have identified a variety of new retrotransposon LTR sequen ces from pea, broad bean and Norway spruce. Primers specific for three pea LTRs have been used to reveal polymorphisms associated with the correspondi ng retrotransposons within the Pisum genus.