Determination of Sugar Content of Some Inbred Sweet Corn Lines and Screening with SSR Markers Related to Sugar Genes

In this study we evaluated 26 sweet corn inbred lines from U.S. Department of Agriculture and 23 sweet corn inbred lines developed by Field Crops Department Ege University. In total 49 different sweet corn inbred lines were planted in the lattice experimetal design in 2015 maize growing season. The leaf samples were taken in 4-5 leaves stage for DNA isolation. After harvesting of the corn cobs, total sugar content in the kernels were measured by Luff-Schoorl method. At the same time, moleculer screenings were carried out by using 9 SSR markers which are related to sugar content genes in 49 inbred sweet corn lines. The total sugar content ranged from 0.66% to 16.84% among 49 sweet corn inbred lines. The results showed that the SSR primers umc1031 marker for su, phi44 marker for sh-1, umc2276 marker for sh-2 and phi328175 marker for ea-1 gene were identified as highly correlated with sugar contents of the inbred lines. In this study, the total sugar content of 24 sweet corn inbred lines were found higher than 4.0 % which is the maximum sugar content value of dent corn. It was concluded that these genotypes can be used as parental genotypes for improved of hybrid sweet corn cultivars in breeding programs.