Tagging quantitative trait loci for maturity-corrected late blight resistance in tetraploid potato with PCR-based candidate gene markers

• Published in: Molecular plant-microbe interactions Vol. 17; no. 10; pp. 1126 - 1138
• Main Authors: Bormann, C.A, Rickert, A.M, Castillo Ruiz, R.A, Paal, J, Lubeck, J, Strahwald, J, Buhr, K, Gebhardt, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: St Paul, MN APS Press 01-10-2004; American Phytopathological Society; The American Phytopathological Society
• Subjects: Alleles; Biological and medical sciences; blight; chromosome mapping; disease resistance; DNA, Plant - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungal diseases of plants; Genes, Plant; Genetic Markers; Genotype; late blight; marker-assisted selection (MAS); Models, Genetic; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Phytophthora - pathogenicity; Phytophthora infestans; Plant Diseases - genetics; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polyploidy; potatoes; Quantitative Trait Loci; Solanum tuberosum; Solanum tuberosum - genetics; Solanum tuberosum - growth & development; Solanum tuberosum - microbiology; tetraploidy; Polymerase chain reaction; Resistance; Plant; Gene; Microbiology; Solanum tuberosum; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Solanaceae; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0894-0282; 1943-7706
• DOI: 10.1094/MPMI.2004.17.10.1126

Late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans is the economically most important and destructive disease in potato cultivation. Quantitative resistance to late blight available in tetraploid cultivars is correlated with late maturity in temperate climates, which is an undesirable characteristic. A total of 30 DNA-based markers known to be linked to loci for pathogen resistance in diploid potato were selected and tested as polymerase chain reaction-based markers for linkage with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for late blight resistance and plant maturity in two half-sib families of tetraploid potatoes. Most markers originated from within or were physically closely linked to candidate genes for quantitative resistance factors. The families were repeatedly evaluated in the field for quantitative resistance to late blight and maturity. Resistance was corrected for the maturity effect. Nine of eleven different map segments tagged by the markers harbored QTL affecting maturity-corrected resistance. Interactions were found between unlinked resistance QTL, providing testable strategies for marker-assisted selection in tetraploid potato. Based on the linkage observed between QTL for resistance and plant maturity and based on the genetic interactions observed between candidate genes tagging resistance QTL, we discuss models for the molecular basis of quantitative resistance and maturity.