LAUSR

Molecular breeding in sesame is still at infancy due to limited number of microsatellite markers available and the low level of polymorphism exhibited by them. Therefore, whole genome sequencing was used for development of microsatellite markers so as to ensure availability of substantial number of polymorphic markers for use in marker assisted breeding programs. Whole genome sequencing of sesame variety ‘Swetha’ was done using Illumina paired-end sequencing and Roche 454 shotgun sequencing technologies (GCA_000975565.1 in GenBank). ‘GinMicrosatDb’, a genome-wide microsatellite marker database has been developed using the whole genome sequence data of sesame variety ‘Swetha’. The database consists of microsatellites localized on both linkage groups and scaffolds with their genomic co-ordinates. It provides five sets of forward and reverse primers for each of the microsatellite loci along with the flanking sequences, primer GC content, product size and melting temperature etc. The distribution of microsatellites can be viewed and selected through a genome browser as well as through a physical map. The newly identified microsatellite markers are expected to help sesame breeders in developing marker tags for traits of economic importance thereby bringing about greater efficiency in marker-assisted selection programs.