Development and characterization of a codominant marker linked to root-knot nematode resistance, and its application to peach rootstock breeding

Abstract

 The presence of a codominant AFLP marker, EAA/MCAT10, correlates with the primary source of resistance to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica) in rootstock cultivars of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]. Two allelic DNA fragments of this AFLP marker were cloned, sequenced and converted to sequence tagged sites (STS). Four nucleotide differences (i.e. one addition and three substitutions) were observed between the two clones. Furthermore, there was a diagnostic Sau3 AI cleavage site (GATC) in the large fragment that was absent from the small fragment (GTTC at this site). The applicability of this STS marker system to peach germplasm improvement was evaluated: genomic DNAs of cross parents (i.e. ‘Lovell’ and ‘Nemared’), four F₁ hybrids (K62-67, K62-68, P101-40 and P101-41) and two F₂ populations (from K62-68 and P101-41), as well as DNA from a test panel of 18 rootstock cultivars or selections, were PCR-amplified with the Mij3F/Mij1R primer pair and then digested with Sau3 AI. The banding patterns showed that the EAA/MCAT10 STS markers can clearly distinguish the three genotypes – homozygous resistant, heterozygous resistant and homozygous susceptible – in the ‘Lovell’בNemared’ cross. In addition, results from the rootstock survey were consistent with each rootstock’s phenotypic response to nematode infection, except for ‘Okinawa’, ‘Flordaguard’ and ‘Yunnan’ where root-knot resistance may have arisen independently. Therefore, the EAA/MCAT10 STS markers will be a useful tool to initiate marker assisted selection studies in peach rootstock breeding for root-knot nematode resistance.