Genomic Markers Linked to Meloidogyne Chitwoodi Resistance Introgressed From Solanum Bulbocastanum to Cultivated Potato and Their Utilility in Marker-assisted Selection
Abstract Meloidogyne chitwoodi is a major threat to potato production in the Pacific Northwest region of United States. Infected tubers are rendered unmarketable, hence growers’ profitability is adversely affected. Breeding for nematode resistance is a long-term process and phenotyping the segregating populations for nematode resistance is the most time-consuming and laborious part of the process. Using DNA-based markers closely linked to the nematode resistance trait for marker-assisted selection (MAS) could enhance breeding efficiency and accuracy. In the present study, a pool of phenotyped progenies segregating for nematode resistance and susceptibility were fingerprinted using a 21K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Eight candidate SNPs located on potato Chromosome 11, segregating with the nematode resistance trait were identified and used as landmarks for discovery of other marker types such as, simple sequence repeat (SSR) and insertion-deletion (INDEL) markers. Subsequently, a total of eight SNPs, 30 SSRs and four INDELS located on scaffold 11 of Solanum. bulbocastanum were used to design primers; markers were validated on a panel of resistant and susceptible clones. Two SNPs (SB_MC1Chr11-PotVar0066518 and SB_MC1Chr11-PotVar0064140), five SSRs (SB_MC1Chr11-SSR04, SB_MC1Chr11-SSR08, SB_MC1Chr11-SSR10, SB_MC1Chr11-SSR13 and SB_MC1Chr11-SSR20) and one INDEL (SB_MC1Chr11-INDEL4) markers differentated between the resistant and susceptible clones in the test panel as well as other segregating progenies using simple PCR technique and high resolution melting curve analysis. These markers are robust, highly reproducible and easy to use for MAS of nematode resistant potato clones to enhance the breeding program.