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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Frederick, Maryland » Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #172907
Title: MOLECULAR GENETIC MAPPING OF THE PLUM POX VIRUS RESISTANCE GENES IN APRICOT

Author
item ABERNATHY, D - CLEMSON UNIV, GENET & BIO
item ZHEBENTYAYEVA, T. - CLEMSON UNIV, GENET & BIO
item ABBOTT, A - CLEMSON UNIV, GENET & BIO
item VILANOVA, S - INS VALENCIANO, SPAIN
item BADENES, M. - IVIA, SPAIN
item SALAVA, J. - PLANT MEDICINE, CZECH REP
item POLAK, J. - PLANT MEDICINE, CZECH REP
item KRSKA, B. - FAC HORT, CZECH REPUB
item Damsteegt, Vernon

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2004
Publication Date: 9/1/2004
Citation: Acta Horticulture 657:283-288

Interpretive Summary: Plum pox is a devastating viral disease of plums, apricots, peaches, and cherries. There are very few sources of resistance against the plum pox virus in peaches and plums but several apricot varieties are very resistant. Research has been directed toward understanding how the resistance is inherited. Genetic markers have been identified that appear to surround the site of the gene(s) for resistance. Through the use of various molecular tools, the genetic regions containing resistance elements are being mapped with the hope that understanding how the genetic material works in apricots will help us to develop plum pox-resistant peaches and plums.

Technical Abstract: Plum pox virus (PPV) is a devastating disease of Prunus trees such as apricot, peach, plum, nectarine, and cherry. It is the most economically important disease of fruit crops in Europe and as of 1999 has found its way into the United States. Development of molecular genetic markers associated with disease resistance in Prunus species could prove to be a valuable tool in combating disease caused by PPV. In order to do this, a molecular genetic approach has been initiated to map putative resistance regions associated with resistance in apricot. Four dominant AFLP markers segregating with resistance to PPV have been previously mapped in the crosses 'Stark Early Orange' (resistant) x 'LE-3218' (a susceptible selection) and 'Vestar' (susceptible) x 'LE-3246' (a resistant selection). The markers EAA/MCAG, EAG/MCAT, EAT/MCCT, and ETC/MCCT are located 4.5, 4.5, 13.3, and 16.4 cM respectively from the putative resistance gene. In order to further characterize this region, each marker was cloned, sequenced, and hybridized to an apricot BAC library. Eleven apricot BACs were positively identified as containing a specific AFLP marker fragment. Based on Hind III digestion patterns of these BACs, 6 of the 11 BACs were chosen for sub-cloning and hybridized to the oligonucleotide probes were sequenced in order to develop SSRs in this region. Eight SSRs identified are currently being investigated to determine their potential for mapping and screening in other crosses. Due to the co-dominant nature of SSRs and their high genetic transportability, development of SSRs linked to resistance to PPV in apricot cold allow the plant breeder to use MAS (marker assisted selection) to screen resistant cultivars in apricot and potentially in other Prunus species.