Introduction to KASP Technology and Its Application in Crop Breeding

In the wave of precision agriculture, KASP technology, with its unique advantages, is becoming an important tool for crop genetic research and molecular breeding. Today, we will delve into KASP technology and explore its key role in molecular breeding, such as in rice blast resistance breeding.

Overview of KASP Technology:

KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR) is a high-throughput genotyping technology based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). It uses allele-specific primers to accurately identify target gene loci, enabling precise genotyping of SNPs and insertion-deletion polymorphisms (InDels) at the genomic level. During the PCR amplification process, only primers or probes that match the target DNA can effectively amplify and produce a fluorescent signal. By detecting specific fluorescent signals, the genotype of the sample can be determined. KASP technology supports SNP detection from low to high throughput and is particularly suitable for accurate genotyping of functional genes, providing a powerful tool for directed improvement of desirable traits.

Advantages of KASP Technology:

1. High Throughput and Flexibility: KASP technology can adapt to low, medium, and high-throughput genotyping needs, suitable for research of various scales.

2. Low Cost: Compared to other genotyping technologies, such as TaqMan probe method, KASP technology uses universal probes, reducing the cost of probe synthesis for each specific site, significantly reducing the commercial service cost.

3. High Accuracy: KASP technology has extremely high accuracy, with a detection rate of over 99.5%, consistent with conventional qPCR detection accuracy, suitable for occasions requiring high-precision genotyping.

4. Simple and Fast Result Analysis: The experimental operation is simple, with low equipment requirements, and can be met by ordinary molecular laboratories, with easy-to-analyze results.

5. High Efficiency: KASP technology can genotype a large number of samples in a short period of time, greatly improving work efficiency.

6. Specific Primers and Probes: The use of specific primers and probes can reduce technical errors and improve the accuracy of genotyping.

7. High Stability: KASP PCR Mix contains a hot start Taq DNA polymerase modified with two antibodies, achieving zero-background PCR, enhancing the stability of the experiment.

8. High Sensitivity: KASP technology can achieve rapid, accurate, and high-throughput genotyping, suitable for genotyping of various organisms, including humans, animals, and plants.

9. Wide Application Range: KASP technology has been widely applied in fields such as molecular marker-assisted breeding of crops, germplasm resource identification, genetic mapping construction, and seed purity identification.

10. Suitable for Complex Genomes: KASP technology can perform accurate bi-allelic genotyping on various genomic DNA samples, including complex genomes.

Application Analysis of KASP Technology:

Here are several papers discussing KASP technology and its application in the genetic research of different crops:

1. Application of KASP Technology in Rice Blast Resistance Breeding: In a study published in the journal "Rice," scientists developed KASP molecular markers for the Pi2 gene in rice. The Pi2 gene has broad-spectrum resistance to rice blast and is a key gene in rice blast resistance breeding. Highlights of the study include accurate genotyping, efficient screening, and analysis showing that the application of KASP technology greatly improves the efficiency of screening for rice blast-resistant varieties, reduces breeding costs, and shortens the breeding cycle.

2. Genomic Fragment Tracing Technology for Trait Improvement in Cabbage: This study used distant hybridization and molecular marker-assisted breeding techniques to introduce Brassica genome fragments into the genome of cabbage, thereby improving the genetic diversity of cabbage and its heading traits. The research team developed a set of KASP markers to track the incorporation of Brassica genome fragments into the cabbage genome. These markers help improve the heading traits of cabbage, making it tighter and higher yielding. The results show that the genetic variation of the cabbage introgression line has expanded nearly tenfold, providing new materials and methods for cabbage genetic improvement.

3. Application of KASP Markers in Other Crops: In addition to rice and cabbage, KASP technology has also been widely applied in the genetic research and molecular breeding of other crops. For example, in a whole-genome resequencing study of maize inbred lines, KASP marker technology was used for SNP genotyping, which is beneficial for crop improvement and genetic research. Moreover, due to its cost-effectiveness and high-throughput characteristics, KASP technology is used in commercial plant breeding, especially in dealing with polyploid plants, where KASP technology can effectively convert valid SNPs into usable markers.

These papers demonstrate the importance of KASP technology in the field of modern agricultural biotechnology, especially in molecular marker-assisted breeding, genotyping, and genetic diversity analysis. Through KASP technology, researchers can more efficiently improve crops, enhance crop yield and disease resistance, and provide technical support for modern agricultural production.

Conclusion and Prospects:

The application of KASP technology in rice blast resistance breeding not only improves the precision and efficiency of breeding but also provides new ideas for the molecular breeding of other crops. With the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of its application range, KASP technology is expected to play a more important role in the field of precision agriculture.

Related Products by GDSBio:

GDSBio has developed a variety of PCR Mix solutions for KASP technology, containing hot start Taq DNA polymerase modified with two antibodies, dNTPs, buffer, and other essential components for PCR amplification. The products are convenient to use, have superior performance, and are cost-effective, with trial applications available.

About GDSBio:

Guangzhou Dongsheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. was established in 2005 and is located in the Science City of Huangpu District, Guangzhou. It is a high-tech enterprise focusing on the research and development, production, and sales of high-quality life science products. With PCR technology as its core, GDSBio focuses on molecular biology technologies such as ordinary PCR, fluorescent quantitative PCR, NGS library construction, and nucleic acid electrophoresis, developing a series of high-quality molecular research reagents and IVD diagnostic raw materials. Since 2010, GDSBio has successively passed ISO9001 and ISO13485 quality management system certifications and has expanded into overseas markets, with customers around the world. The products are favored by a large number of loyal customers for their stable and excellent quality, helping to interpret the true essence of the world with advanced technology and to explore the mysteries of life.