Forming process of biological nanostructures is a bottom up process, under genetic control and nonrandomized. It is expected that due to genetic variation between different cultivars, this particular model at the molecular level should be different between the different varieties and lines. For the first time, Nanomarker concept was in this project proposed as a tool for indirect selection of desired traits in plant breeding programs. At the beginning, nanostructured surface patterns of seed, embryo shell and testa were studied using a scanning probe microscope in sensitive and resistant to rhizomania samples. Then, with statistical analysis, the relationship between these nanostructure’s traits and seed physiological traits and disease resistance were studied. A correlation with roughness characteristics of fetal testa internal surface was obtained for disease resistance. Some physiological traits also showed a high correlation with friction and elasticity of the inner and the outer surfaces of the inner testa. As the first study of its kind, the results were promising and if further studies approve reproducibility of the results and similar studies done for other plants and traits, it is possible to introduction of the structural nanomarkers as a new marker in plant breeding programs.

Topography and Phase images from beet internal testa

Sample	Inner surface topography	Outer surface topography	Phase image of inner surface	Phase image of outer surface
Beet