DNA Markers: An Essential Tool for Cis-genic Improvement of Rice

AbstractSteered by the green revolution, rice breeding programs across the globe have taken off on a path toward improving the rice crop, both in terms of yield and quality to meet the demands of tomorrow’s consumers. In the journey to reach the pinnacle in rice production, DNA markers have become an indispensable tool to bring out desired characteristics of the rice gene pool. From genetic characterization to varietal release, applications of DNA markers in rice cis-genic improvement are numerous. However, among the rice breeding community, the capacity to use DNA markers in routine work has its limitations due to economic, technological, and socio-cultural aspects. In this chapter, our focus will be to introduce applications of DNA markers in cis-genic improvement of rice and present a critical look at the current limitations of using DNA markers and propose ways to move forward.KeywordsCis-genic rice improvementDNA marker assaysMolecular breedingRice genome