The Integrated Marker-Assisted Selection System (iMAS)

The Integrated Marker-Assisted Selection System (iMAS) is an integrated molecular breeding analysis platform to facilitate an integrated system, based on freely available software. iMAS provides a single unified computing and decision support platform to facilitate identification of trait-linked markers for use in marker-aided selection and breeding by (a) Integrating and implementing the required computational processes, and (b) Providing guidelines for correct application and interpretation of computational tools.

The simple-to-follow guidelines embedded into the a common front-end of the system to help users choose the most appropriate experimental design and data analysis methods, and provide them with a regularly updated selection of the currently most appropriate options. Since converting the format of datasets to meet the differing requirements of various software is also an extremely time-consuming process fraught with errors, the iMAS performs the required data formatting for all included software.

The present version implements a mapping-population-based approach to identify trait-linked markers with six modules — Data Validation, Phenotyping, Linkage Map Building, QTL Analysis, Genome Display and MABC Sample Size.

The Data Validation module provides some facilities to check basic background information on your data files and gives you an opportunity to correct your data files if necessary, before starting to use iMAS

The Phenotyping helps you (1) select and generate a suitable experimental design for phenotyping and (2) undertake Biometric Analysis of resulting phenotyping data to obtain average phenotypic values.

The Linkage Map Building module generates a linkage map. The QTL Analysis module undertakes QTL analysis based on a linkage map, the genotyping data used to build that linkage map, and the average phenotypic values.

The Genome Display module facilitates graphical display of genomic content of progenies. The MABC Sample Size module helps determine the optimal sample size for marker-aided backcrossing.

The Integrated Marker-Assisted Selection System (iMAS). 2007. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Andhra Padesh, Patancheru 5023 24, India .

For further details contact :Abhishek Rathore