MARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH SPONTANEOUS CHROMOSOME DUPLICATION

Claims

1. A method for selecting the first maize plant or germplasm that exhibits spontaneous chromosome doubling ("SCD") while in the haploid state, the method comprising a. isolation of nucleic acids from the first maize plant or germplasm; b. detection in the first maize plant or germplasm of SCD-QTL1 containing SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 7, which is associated with spontaneous chromosome duplication; and c. selection of the first maize plant or germplasm, or selection of a progeny of the first maize plant or germplasm, containing SCD-QTL1 that is associated with spontaneous chromosome duplication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising crossing said selected first maize plant or germplasm with a second maize plant or germplasm to produce a maize offspring plant, wherein the maize offspring plant or germplasm exhibits increased spontaneous chromosome doubling ("SCD") while in a haploid state.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein SCD-QTL1 is detected using a composition containing a detectable label.

4. A method for producing a plant that is a spontaneously doubled haploid, the method comprising: a. obtaining the first maize plant containing SCD-QTL1 containing SEQ ID NO: 6 and 7, which is associated with spontaneous chromosome duplication; b. crossing the first maize plant with the second maize plant; c. obtaining the offspring from the cross at stage b and selecting from it a haploid offspring; and d. ensuring spontaneous doubling of chromosomes in a haploid offspring; thereby ensuring the production of a plant that is a spontaneously doubled haploid.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plant, which is a spontaneously doubled haploid, contains reproductive tissues capable of producing fertile gametes.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the plant, which is a spontaneously doubled haploid, is characterized by male fertility.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first maize plant is a maize plant that is a haploinducer.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first maize plant contains a mutation in CENH3 or IG1.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second maize plant is a maize plant that is a haploinducer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second maize plant comprises a mutation in ZmMATL.

11. A method for introgression of a locus of interest, wherein the method comprises a. obtaining the first maize plant containing SCD-QTL1 containing SEQ ID NO: 6 and 7, which is associated with spontaneous chromosome duplication; b. crossing the first maize plant with a second maize plant containing the locus of interest; c. obtaining offspring from crossing at stage b.; d. optionally backcrossing the progeny from stage c. with the first maize plant or the second maize plant; e. screening progeny from stage c. or stage d. for the presence of the locus of interest and the SCD QTL; and f. selecting an offspring that is at least heterozygous for the locus of interest and at least heterozygous for the SCD QTL; which ensures the production of a maize plant containing the locus of interest and the SCD QTL.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein screening of the offspring for the presence of the locus of interest and the SCD-QTL is carried out by genotype.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the screening of the offspring for the presence of the locus of interest and the SCD-QTL is carried out by phenotype.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the locus of interest comprises a quantitative trait locus that is associated with a trait selected from the group consisting of increased yield, increased water consumption optimization, increased disease resistance, increased drought tolerance, and increased herbicide tolerance.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the locus of interest comprises a transgene.

16. A maize plant obtained by the method according to claim 10.

17. The maize plant of claim 15, wherein the maize plant is of the soft-stemmed heterotic group, the hard-stemmed heterotic group, or the tropical heterotic group.

18. The maize plant of claim 15, wherein the maize plant is a hybrid maize plant or an elite maize plant.

19. A maize descendant plant obtained from the maize plant according to claim 15.

20. A detection kit comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO:

5.

21. A method for producing a maize plant that is a spontaneously doubled haploid, the method comprising: a. identifying the first maize plant or germplasm that contains SCD-QTL1 comprising SEQ ID NO: 6 and SEQ ID NO: 7 associated with spontaneous chromosome duplication; b. crossing the first maize plant with the second maize plant; c. obtaining offspring from the crossing at stage b and selecting from it a haploid offspring; and d. ensuring spontaneous doubling of chromosomes in a haploid offspring, thereby producing a plant that is a spontaneously doubled haploid.