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- Author or Editor: Norman F. Weeden x
Molecular maps and DNA libraries are now possible to construct in nearly every horticultural crop. Comparison of linkage relationships both within and among families of flowering plants is giving us the capability to predict where genes will be even in crops lacking linkage maps. The dissection of quantitative traits into Mendelian components has been successfully performed in many crops, and candidate genes have occasionally been matched with QTLs or morphological mutations on the basis of map position. Breeders are now able to predict what combination of traits will be difficult to achieve as a result of repulsion phase linkage and what traits might be associated with problems due to linkage drag. Maps and libraries also help in identification of homologous genes in different species and gene-rich regions within a chromosome. More generally, DNA libraries are giving us access to every gene in a genome, leading to much more powerful studies concerning the anatomy, ontogeny and physiology of horticultural crops.
The S alleles of 15 Japanese apple cultivars were determined by using the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction amplification and restriction enzyme digestion system developed by Janssens et al. (1995). Both S alleles were identified in eight diploid cultivars, two S alleles in three triploid cultivars, and one S allele in the remaining four diploid cultivars. Two cultivars had S alleles different than those predicted by their parentage, and in one comparison of a cultivar with its sport, an identity problem was discovered. The technique helped to indicate the parent contributing the unreduced gamete in triploids.
Pea (Pisum sativum) dominant for the fundamental color gene A showed a high level of resistance to Globisporangium ultimum (formerly Pythium ultimum) seed rot. Reciprocal crosses demonstrated that, with our materials, such resistance was associated with the testa (seedcoat) phenotype but not the embryo phenotype. Dominance of A over a was complete for this trait. Neither wrinkled seed form (r) nor green cotyledons (i) diminished resistance when A was dominant, although both recessive alleles diminished resistance when seeds were borne on white-flowering (a) plants. The product of the A gene functions in the pathway leading to flavonoids, including proanthocyanidins (PAs) and anthocyanidins. We found that resistance to G. ultimum seed rot was closely associated with not only dominant A but also testa PAs and testa sclerenchyma. Even A testas that lacked anthocyanins but contained PAs and sclerenchyma showed a high level of seed rot resistance. Moreover, a mutation removing PAs and sclerenchyma in a narrow zone from the hilum to the radicle markedly increased susceptibility. The PAs in pea testas were predominantly prodelphinidins in seeds from purple-flowered plants (A B) and procyanidins from pink-flowered plants (A b). Compared with procyanidins, prodelphinidins have higher antioxidant activity but are more likely to sequester iron, a particular concern with dry pea. Although A B testas were more resistant than A b to seed rot, the difference seemed too slight to militate against growing pink-flowered pea. We stressed the need for more histological comparisons of A B and A b testas, and we indicated that genes and their phenotypic effects examined during the current study could be useful for modeling biosynthesis of PAs and related cell walls.
We mapped DNA polymorphisms generated by 41 sets of Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) primers, developed independently in four laboratories. All primer sets gave polymorphisms that could be located on our `White Angel' x `Rome Beauty' map for apple [Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. Var. domestica (Borkh.) Mansf.]. The SSR primers were used to identify homologous linkage groups in `Wijcik McIntosh', NY 75441-58, `Golden Delicious', and `Liberty' cultivars for which relatively complete linkage maps have been constructed from isozyme and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. In several instances, two or more SSRs were syntenic, and except for an apparent translocation involving linkage group (LG) 6, these linkages were conserved throughout the six maps. Twenty-four SSR primers were consistently polymorphic, and these are recommended as standard anchor markers for apple maps. Experiments on a pear (Pyrus communis L.) population indicated that many of the apple SSRs would be useful for mapping in pear. However some of the primers produced fragments in pear significantly different in size than those in apple.
The genetic basis of resistance to apple scab [Venturia inaequalis (Cke.) Wint.] in the Russian apple seedling R12740-7A (Malus Mill. sp.) was investigated. Segregation ratios obtained in crosses with susceptible cultivars suggested that at least two genes were involved, and three foliar resistance reactions (chlorotic, stellate necrotic, and pit type) were observed after inoculation. DNA markers were identified for both the stellate necrotic (Vr ) and pit type (no locus designation, Vx suggested) resistance phenotypes. Comparison of resistance phenotypes with marker segregation demonstrated that only two major dominant genes were present in R12740-7A, one producing the stellate necrotic lesion and the other the pit-type lesion. The chlorotic lesion could be attributed to either unclear expression of the resistance phenotype or to susceptible genotypes not contracting the disease. These markers along with a previously published marker for Vf were used to analyze inheritance of resistance in a Vr × Vf cross in advanced breeding material. The markers identified successfully all susceptible progeny, as well as apparent escapes and individuals possessing both Vf and Vr . Thus, the markers should be useful in future screening of segregating progeny and in the pyramiding of scab resistance genes in new cultivars.
Genetic linkage maps were created for three apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) cultivars using data from two progenies (`Wijcik McIntosh' xNY 75441-67 and `Wijcik McIntosh' xNY 75441-58). The maps consist primarily of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, but also contain six isozyme loci and four morphological markers (Rf , fruit skin color; Vf , scab resistance; Co, columnar growth habit; Ma, malic acid). Maps were constructed using a double pseudotestcross mapping format and JoinMap mapping software. An integrated `Wijcik McIntosh' map was produced by combining marker data from both progenies into a single linkage map. Homologous linkage groups from paternal maps were paired with their counterparts in the `Wijcik McIntosh' map using locus bridges composed of markers heterozygous in both parents of a progeny. The `Wijcik McIntosh' map consists of 238 markers arranged in 19 linkage groups spanning 1206 cM. The NY 75441-67 map contains 110 markers in 16 linkage groups and the NY 75441-58 map consists of 183 markers in 18 linkage groups. The average distance between markers in the maps was ≈5.0 cM.
Abstract
Genetic analysis of 11 allozyme polymorphisms was performed on the progeny of ‘Cayuga White’ × ‘Aurora’, two complex interspecific grape (Vitis) hybrids. Segregation for most of the polymorphisms closely approximated monogenic Mendelian ratios, and eight new isozyme loci were defined for grape. Joint segregation analysis among the isozyme loci revealed three multilocus linkage groups. These results demonstrate that sufficient allozyme polymorphism exists in grape to establish many multilocus linkage groups and that this genetic analysis can be accomplished using extant progeny or progeny readily produced from highly heterozygous clones.
Five morphological and developmental traits (branching habit, vegetative budbreak, reproductive budbreak, bloom time, and root suckering) were analyzed in a family obtained from the apple (Malus domestica Borkh) cross `Rome Beauty' × `White Angel'. The phenotypic variation in these traits was compared with a selected set of marker loci covering the known genome of each of the parents to locate genes with major effects on the traits. The contrasting branching habits of the two parents appeared to be controlled by at least two loci. One of these, Tb, governed the presence or absence of lateral branches, particularly on the lower half of shoots. The locus was heterozygous in `White Angel' and was mapped to a 5 CM interval on linkage group 6. At least one other locus conditioning spur-type branching appeared to be segregating, but the locus or loci could not be linked to segregating markers. The timing of initial vegetative growth was tightly associated with the chromosomal region in which the Tb gene is located and maybe a pleiotropic effect of this gene. Time of reproductive budbreak correlated with segregation at the isozyme marker, Prx-c, on linkage group 5. Variation in time of bloom and later stages in flower development appeared to be controlled by different genes not linked to Prx-c. The tendency to produce root suckers cosegregated with a marker on `White Angel' linkage group 1, suggesting control by a single locus, Rs. Data from a `Rome Beauty' x `Robusta 5' family provided additional information on the inheritance of these traits.
A project to develop a linkage map of the Vitis genome is underway using an interspecific hybrid grape population from `Cayuga White' × `Aurore'. The linkage map is based on 15 isozyme, 13 RFLP and more than 350 RAPD markers. This information is being combined with segregation data for viticulturally important traits including disease resistance to identify QTLs and mark simply inherited traits. Molecular markers, when linked with morphological traits, will find great application in map-based cloning and marker-assisted selection in grape breeding. We have also analyzed genome size of three genera of Vitacae (Ampelopsis, Parthenocissus and Vitis) and 15 Vitis species as well as 15 diploid cultivars using flow cytometry. DNA content varied from 0.84 to 1.40 pg/2C. The relative small genome size indicates that Vitis is a good candidate for molecular genome analysis. All this information will help us understand Vitis genome organization and reliability of identifying a gene linked to a marker in different populations.