Molecular Markers in Plant Breeding

Progress in plant breeding has traditionally relied on the careful evaluation of the differences in physical characteristics or phenotypes between individual plants.

Over the past 20 years, molecular marker technologies have been developed arising from the genetic differences between individual plants within a species. These marker technologies have been applied to plant breeding, enabling breeders to use the genetic composition or genotypes of plants as a criterion for selection and breeding progress. However, these methods have only been applied to a limited number of crop species, with the most widely used in rich countries. Even there, the application of molecular marker methods has been somewhat narrow in scope, focusing on a small number of traits or genomic regions.

We believe that a broader application of molecular markers could make a significant contribution to plant breeding. This is why we developed the DArT technology package. DArT technology allows whole-genome profiling at high-throughput and low cost.

Read more about the benefits of whole-genome profiling.