Validation of SSR markers linked to protein content in F5 recombinant inbred lines derived from BPT 5204 × HPR 14 rice cross

Grain protein content is polygenic character in rice and plays very important role in human nutrition. The objective of thisstudy was to validate already mapped markers associated to protein content in F5 Recombinant Inbred Lines of rice derivedfrom BPT 5204× HPR 14 using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy. About 17 polymorphic primers were validated onselected F5 lines. In F5 generation, about 7 primers showed significant association with total grain protein content. Among 7primers, RM520 showed 9.1 per cent phenotypic variability (R2) followed by RM206 with 8.75 per cent R2 in F5 generation.Selected 2 lines with high protein content were subjected to Graphical genotyping analysis using 63 microsatellite markers.Line number 73 represented 39.7 per cent of BPT parent, 56.4 per cent HPR parent and 4 per cent of heterozygote. Thisindicates high protein content was inherited from male parent. It could be due to samples were taken from a large populationand also less number of polymorphic markers scanned on chromosomes and it needs to be fine tuned with more number ofmarkers on the whole genome. Lines with high protein content can be used for further improvement programme to develop asuitable variety to feed the human with nutritious diet.