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Title: A GENETIC MAP OF MELON (CUCUMIS MELO L.) BASED ON AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM (AFLP) MARKERS

Author
item WANG, Y.-H. - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item Thomas, Claude
item DEAN, RALPH - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Plant breeders have worked for many years to develop improved cultivars of melon that are resistant to diseases. Progress has been slowed because of a lack of knowledge on the genetic composition of the crop, so that considerable trial and error experimentation was required. Clemson University and ARS scientists have constructed a genetic map for melon based on DNA markers. This map provides a framework for understanding the genetic make-up of this plant species. The map can be used to more efficiently improve genetic disease resistance and other desired traits in this crop through plant breeding.

Technical Abstract: Genetic maps facilitate the study of genome structure and evolution, and the identification of monogenic traits of Mendelian components of quantitative traits. We evaluated 228 RAPD, microsatellite and AFLP markers for linkage analysis in melon (Cucumis melo L.) varieties MR-1 (resistant to Fusarium wilt, powdery and downy mildews) and Ananas Yokneum (AY; susceptible to these diseases) and constructed a detailed genetic map The mapping population consisted of sixty-six backcross progenies derived from AYx(MR-1xAY). Despite relatively low level of polymorphism in the species, AFLP was found to be more efficient in mapping the melon genome than RAPD and microsatellite markers. The map contains 197 AFLP, 6 RAPD and 1 microsatellite markers assigned to 14 major and 6 minor linkage groups, and covers 1942 cM with the average distance between adjacent markers of approximately 10 cM. Maximum distance allowed between markers is 27.5 cM. About 11% of intervals (20 out of 173) are over 20 cM (but less than 27.5 cM). The map has immediate utility for identifying markers linked to disease resistance genes that are suitable for marker-assisted breeding. Use of microsatellite markers for integration with other maps is also discussed.