Genetic purity testing of F1 hybrid seed with molecular markers in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

• The genetic purity of cabbage elite hybrid cultivar was tested with molecular markers.
• Seven primers were successfully screened out for hybrid seed genetic purity testing.
• Seed genetic purity from molecular testing is in high accordance with that from GOTs.
• Molecular testing was efficient and accurate in cabbage hybrid seed quality control.

The seed genetic purity of cabbage F1 hybrid cultivar, ‘Sugan 21’, was analyzed with PCR-based molecular markers including SSR, RAPD, ISSR and SRAP in this study. Among the total of 325 primers including 85 SSR, 80 RAPD, 96 ISSR and 64 SRAP screened, only seven primers could produce both female parent-specific (FPS) and male parent-specific (MPS) markers. A total of 216 F1 hybrid individuals were genotyped with these seven primers belonging to three molecular marker systems. It was found that four out of the 216 F1 individuals were false hybrids, among which three could only generate FPS markers and the rest generated MPS markers only. Therefore, the genetic purity of ‘Sugan 21’ seed lot used in this study was calculated as 98.15%. Grow-out-trials (GOTs) were carried out to test the seed genetic purity and validate the authenticity of the molecular markers analysis, and it was found that five out of the 216 F1 plants were false hybrids and the seed purity from GOTs was 97.69%. These results indicated that the molecular markers could be used as a more rapid, practical and efficient tool in quality control of the cabbage commercial hybrid seeds.