Identification of SSRs Based Candidate Gene Markers for Iron and Zinc Content in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Using Bioinformatics Tools

Availability of rice genome sequence has opened up new avenues in identifying candidate genes involved in iron and zinc content by using the bioinformatics tools. Using this approach several genes involved in ion homeostasis have been studied in rice. Present study involves a total of twenty families: Sixteen (YS) yellow Strip, eight ZIP (zinc and iron regulators), three NRAMP (Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein) and two Ferritin proteins involved in iron and zinc homeostasis. Different classes of SSR motifs such as di, tri and tetra nucleotides repeats identifies in iron and zinc transporters by using www.gramene.org/db/searches/ssrtool/. Sixteen primers were designed from flanking sequences of those repeat motifs from various families of iron and zinc transporters. SSRs derived from candidate genes are useful in identifying rice genotypes with high iron and zinc content which is essential for the crop improvement.