Analysis of OPT8(511) RAPD fragments closely linked with cold sensitivity at seedling stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

OPT8(511) was confirmed to be strongly associated with cold sensitivity of rice by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis for the cold toler ance with 94 F-2 population crossed with 'Dular' (cold sensitive cultivar) and 'Toyohatamochi' (cold resistant cultivar). A DNA marker from the RAPD f ragment, OPT8(511), has been cloned with genomic DNA from rice cultivar ('D ular') and the nucleotide sequence has been determined. The nucleotide sequ ence revealed that the putative open reading frame was 511 base pairs and c ontained 169 amino acid residues. It is 79% and 57% identical to the rice c DNA (C26347) in DataBank at the nucleotide and amino acid sequence levels, respectively. The clone OPT8(511), specifically amplified a 511 bp band fro m the DNA of cold sensitive cultivars, Use of this marker could facilitate early selection of character associated with cold tolerance in rice.