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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #285894
Title: Use of the Matina 1-6 Cacao Genome Sequence to Identify Marker-Trait Associations for Witches' Broom Resistance in Theobroma cacao L

Author
item Royaert, Stefan
item ARAUJO, IONA SANTOS - Mars, Inc
item LIVINGSTONE III, DONALD - Mars, Inc
item MARELLI, JEAN-PHILIPPE - M & M Mars Company - Brazil
item DA SILVA, DANIELA VIANA - Universidade Estadual De Santa Cruz
item DE JESUS BRANCO, SANUEL MARTINS - Universidade Estadual De Santa Cruz
item CORREA, RONAN XAVIER - Universidade Estadual De Santa Cruz
item Kuhn, David
item SCHNELL, RAYMOND - Mars, Inc
item MOTAMAYOR, JUAN CARLOS - Mars, Inc

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2012
Publication Date: 1/15/2012
Citation: Royaert, S.E., Araujo, I., Livingstone Iii, D., Marelli, J., Da Silva, D., De Jesus Branco, S., Correa, R., Kuhn, D.N., Schnell, R.J., Motamayor, J. 2012. Use of the Matina 1-6 Cacao Genome Sequence to Identify Marker-Trait Associations for Witches' Broom Resistance in Theobroma cacao L. Meeting Abstract. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268120925_Use_of_the_Matina_1-6_Cacao_Genome_Sequence_to_Identify_Marker-Trait_Associations_for_Witches'_Broom_Resistance_in_Theobroma_cacao_L.

Interpretive Summary: Theobroma cacao, the source of cocoa beans for chocolate, is an important tropical agriculture commodity that is affected by a number of fungal pathogens and insect pests, as well as concerns about yield and quality. We are trying to find molecular genetic markers that are linked to disease resistance and other important economic traits to aid in a marker assisted selection (MAS) breeding program for cacao to ensure a reliable supply of cocoa for the US confectionary industry. Increasing yield, quality and disease resistance are important objectives for cacao breeding programs. In the main production areas, yields are reduced by diseases and pests that differ in each of the production areas. Black pod rot (Phytophtora spp) causes significant losses in all production areas. In the Americas, more specifically, frosty pod (Moniliophthora roreri) and witches’ broom (M. perniciosa) produce significant losses. We recently identified associations between simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and witches’ broom (WB) resistance (cushion brooms, more specifically) using a segregating mapping population at the Mars Center for Cocoa Science (Brazil) between ‘TSH-1188’ (WB resistant) and ‘CCN-51’ (WB susceptible). A subset of 282 trees was genotyped using several hundred SSR markers, and phenotypic data was collected during 2008 and 2009. The resulting genetic linkage map was composed of 185 SSRs. Significant associations for cushion brooms were identified on linkage groups 4 and 9. Use of 3,251 SNP markers, obtained via the cacao genome sequencing program, led to the creation of a more densely populated genetic map based on 461 trees. Further strategies, such as phasing of the parents and the offspring in order to reduce the size of the associated regions will be presented. The goal is to identify markers for Marker-Assisted-Breeding, and ultimately identify candidate genes involved in witches’ broom resistance. Our results are important to scientists trying to understand the mechanism of disease resistance and, eventually, to cacao farmers who will benefit from superior disease resistant and more productive cultivars produced through our MAS breeding program.

Technical Abstract: Increasing yield, quality and disease resistance are important objectives for cacao breeding programs. In the main production areas, yields are reduced by diseases and pests that differ in each of the production areas. Black pod rot (Phytophtora spp) causes significant losses in all production areas. In the Americas, more specifically, frosty pod (Moniliophthora roreri) and witches’ broom (M. perniciosa) produce significant losses. We recently identified associations between simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and witches’ broom (WB) resistance (cushion brooms, more specifically) using a segregating mapping population at the Mars Center for Cocoa Science (Brazil) between ‘TSH-1188’ (WB resistant) and ‘CCN-51’ (WB susceptible). A subset of 282 trees was genotyped using several hundred SSR markers, and phenotypic data was collected during 2008 and 2009. The resulting genetic linkage map was composed of 185 SSRs. Significant associations for cushion brooms were identified on linkage groups 4 and 9. Use of 3,251 SNP markers, obtained via the cacao genome sequencing program, led to the creation of a more densely populated genetic map based on 461 trees. Further strategies, such as phasing of the parents and the offspring in order to reduce the size of the associated regions will be presented. The goal is to identify markers for Marker-Assisted-Breeding, and ultimately identify candidate genes involved in witches’ broom resistance.