Mapping of rice Rf gene by bulked line analysis.

A method, bulked line analysis (BLA), was developed for identification of the RFLP markers associated with a target gene. Instead of segregating progenies, conventional lines sharing the same trait were bulked by the BLA method. This method is an alternative approach to the identification of DNA markers linked with a target gene. A major advantage of this method is time-saving for genetic stock development. The advantage is very significant for organisms having a long generation period. This method has been tested by using fertility restoration of rice cytoplasmic male sterility of wild abortive type as a target trait. A fertility-restoring gene was successfully identified by linkage with RFLP markers. This gene was mapped in the middle of the long arm of chromosome 10 of the rice genome.