Linkage with glossy sheath (gs4) and orange lemma (o) in a Bowman backcross background has been used to assign a locus associated with common root rot resistance to the centromere region of chromosome 6 (Kutcher and Bailey, 1993). Liljeroth et al. (1993) have found higher yield and higher bacterial counts to be associated with duplication of segments of chromosome 6 and 7. This would suggest that there are loci on these two chromosomes which may be able to increase yield potential when present in extra doses.

Kaji and Makino (1993) have proposed the use of the sex1 and msg6 markers on chromosome 6, in conjunction with other markers, in identifying putative lines which may be obligate apomictic mutants. The use of xenia-expressing markers such as sex1, B1, and wx to produce known heterozygotes makes the search for reproductive mutants, such as apomictics, efficient and feasible.

A number of QTL and molecular markers have been assigned to the barley genome, including chromosome 6, in various reports in BGN 23, as well as the current issue.

References:

Kaji, R. and T. Makino. 1993. A proposed method for selecting obligate apomictic mutants. BGN 23:30-31.

Kutcher, H.R. and K.L. Bailey. 1993. Association of the glossy sheath (gs4) and orange lemma (o) traits and a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker with reaction to common root rot in barley. BGN 23:33-35.

Liljeroth, E., P. Hagberg and A. Hagberg. 1993. Bacterial abundance on roots of a high yielding duplication line and some related varieties. BGN 23:49-52.