Markers are tags applied to detect polymorphism and are of different categories as phenotypic, protein, metabolite and DNA markers. Every marker tag has its unique advantage and DNA based markers are the most recently developed, routinely exploited to detect close polymorphic differences among subjects where the other classes do not reveal. Among multitude of DNA markers, micro satellite markers are notables as they seem to be single locus, co-dominant and multiallelic in nature. So it is employed to analyze polymorphism across the individuals in  bio-population since the principle claims that repetitive sequences for a locus in genome are highly variable and found to be unique for each individual.

Plant molecular biologists of Brazil chose PCR based microsatellite to identify polymorphism present in the accessions of castor germplasm. The application of genetic markers exposed eleven loci in typing but revealed only a diversity of two to five alleles in study loci on 76 accessions.

Marker assisted detection is important for polymorphism, hybridization, seed testing and germplasm management etc. It is a novel work followed in castor in spite of restricted degree in polymorphism in experimentation. The study can most probably be extended by increasing the number of markers of distinct classes to undertstand polymorphism in a deep way for intense crop improvement programmes.

For reference: http://www.amjbot.org/content/98/4/e87.abstract