Comparative mapping

If a common set of markers are used, maps can be compared, even across different species as long as they are close enough related that the same markers can be used. Remember that the markers also have to be polymorphic in each specific population.

For example, markers in the grasses (rice, sorghum, sugarcane, millet, maize, etc. Bowers et al. 2003) can often be used in other grasses, and markers have been developed that can be used across species in Solanum (tomato, potato, eggplant, etc. Wu et al. 2006).

However, this is only helpful for MAB in so far that other maps can be sources of markers – all markers would have to be validated in the breeding population itself to be of use in MAB.