Normal adult survival but reduced Bemisia tabaci oviposition rate on tomato lines carrying an introgression from S. habrochaites

Background Host plant resistance has been proposed as one of the most promising approaches in whitefly management. Already in 1995 two quantitative trait loci (Tv-1 and Tv-2) originating from S. habrochaites CGN1.1561 were identified that reduced the oviposition rate of the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). After this first study, several others identified QTLs affecting whitefly biology as well. Generally, the QTLs affecting oviposition were highly correlated with a reduction in whitefly survival and the presence of high densities of glandular trichomes type IV. The aim of our study was to further characterize Tv-1 and Tv-2, and to determine their role in resistance against Bemisia tabaci. Results We selected F2 plants homozygous for the Tv-1 and Tv-2 QTL regions and did three successive backcrosses without phenotypic selection. Twenty-three F2BC3 plants were phenotyped for whitefly resistance and differences were found in oviposition rate of B. tabaci. The F2BC3 plants with the lowest oviposition rate had an introgression on Chromosome 5 in common. Further F2BC4, F2BC4S1 and F2BC4S2 families were developed, genotyped and phenotyped for adult survival, oviposition rate and trichome type and density. It was possible to confirm that an introgression on top of Chr. 5 (OR-5), between the markers rs-2009 and rs-7551, was responsible for reducing whitefly oviposition rate. Conclusion We found a region of 3.06 Mbp at the top of Chr. 5 (OR-5) associated with a reduction in the oviposition rate of B. tabaci. This reduction was independent of the presence of the QTLs Tv- 1 and Tv-2 as well as of the presence of trichomes type IV. The OR-5 locus will provide new opportunities for resistance breeding against whiteflies, which is especially relevant in greenhouse cultivation

PGR Secure exhibits crop wild relatives and landraces at NIAB Innovation Farm

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Assignment of allelic configuration in polyploids using the MAC-PR (microsatellite DNA allele counting peak ratios) method

Polysomic inheritance frequently results in the simultaneous occurrence of several microsatellite DNA alleles on a single locus. The MAC-PR (microsatellite DNA allele counting¿peak ratios) method was recently developed for the analysis of polyploid plants and makes use of the quantitative values for microsatellite allele peak areas. To date, this approach has only been used in plants with known genetic relationships. We report here the application of MAC-PR for the first time to random samples of unknown pedigrees. We analysed six microsatellite loci using a set of tetraploid ornamental rose (Rosa x hybrida L.) varieties. For each locus, all alleles were analysed in pairwise combinations in order to determine their copy number in the individual samples. This was accomplished by calculating the ratios between the peak areas for two alleles in all of the samples where these two alleles occurred together. The allele peak ratios observed were plotted in a histogram, and those histograms that produced at least two well-separated groups were selected for further analysis. Mean allelic peak ratio values for these groups were compared to the relationships expected between alleles in hypothetical configurations of the locus investigated. Using this approach, we were able to assign precise allelic configurations (the actual genotype) to almost all of the varieties analysed for five of the six loci investigated. MAC-PR also appears to be a very effective tool for detecting null alleles in polyploid specie

Mining the Genus Solanum for Increasing Disease Resistance

Plant Breeding is the art of selecting and discarding genetic material to achieve crop improvement. Favourable alleles resulting in quality improvement or disease resistance must be added, while unfavourable alleles must be removed. The source for novel alleles can be other varieties, landraces or crop wild relatives. The identification of allelic variation is referred to as allele mining. Before allelic variation can be used for breeding purposes several steps need to be taken. First of all an inventory is needed of the available genetic resources. Phenotypic screens are needed to uncover potential expected and even unanticipated alleles. Next, using genetic and molecular tools, the alleles responsible for the identified traits must be traced and distinguished in order to be introgressed into new varieties. In this review we focus on the identification of novel disease resistance traits in the agronomically important genus Solanum. The fact that R genes are present in multigene clusters within the genome, which often include many paralogs necessitates thorough discussion on the distinction between alleles and paralogs. Often such a distinction cannot easily be made. An overview is given of how natural resources can be tapped, e.g. how germplasm can be most efficiently screened. Techniques are presented by which alleles and paralogs can be distinguished in functional and/or genetic screens, including also a specific tagging of alleles and paralogs. Several examples are given in which allele and paralog mining was successfully applied. Also examples are presented as to how allele mining supported our understanding about the evolution of R gene clusters. Finally an outlook is provided how the research field of allele mining might develop in the near future

Sexual preferences linked to rose taxonomy and cytology

The genus Rosa is usually subdivided into four subgenera, the largest of these is subgenus Rosa with 10 sections. Most of the genetically analysed rose species appear to be sexual and diploid (2n = 14) or tetraploid (2n = 28) although there are a few triploid (2n = 21), hexaploid (2n = 42) and octaploid species (2n = 56). The diploid species are usually self-incompatible whereas the polyploids are self-fertile. Pollen stainability is usually high in all species with even ploidy levels, i.e. 2x, 4x or 6x. Rose species are usually sexual and have a regular meiosis but there is one deviating section, Caninae, which harbours the so-called dogroses. Most of these are 5x but there are some taxa with 4x and 6x. Only seven chromosomes (derived from seven bivalents) are transmitted through the pollen grains, whereas egg cells contain 21, 28 or 35 chromosomes (derived from seven bivalents and 14, 21 or 28 univalents) depending on the ploidy level. Apomixis occurs occasionally in the dogroses and genetic selfing is probably common since these taxa are self-fertile. Interspecific hybridization takes place spontaneously among rose species at all ploidy levels and is used as a potent tool in plant breeding. Information about compatibility, breeding system, pollen viability, chromosome number and inheritance is important for optimal utilization of crosses in rose breedin

Cloning and characterization of three apple MADS box genes isolated from vegetative tissue

With the aim of finding genes involved in the floral transition of woody species four MADS box genes containing cDNAs from apple (Malus domestica) have been isolated. Three genes were isolated from vegetative tissue of apple, but were homologues of known genes that specify floral organ identity. MdMADS13 is an AP3-like B class MADS box gene, and was mainly expressed in petals and stamens as demonstrated by Northern blot analysis. MdMADS14 and ¿15 are AGAMOUS-like genes. They differed slightly in expression patterns on Northern blots, with MdMADS15 mRNA levels equally high in stamens and carpels, but MdMADS14 preferably expressed in carpels. MdMADS14 is likely to be the apple orthologue of one of the Arabidopsis thaliana SHATTERPROOF genes, and MdMADS15 closely resembled the Arabidopsis AGAMOUS gene. It has been shown with RT-PCR that the three floral apple MADS box genes are expressed in vegetative tissues of adult as well as juvenile trees, albeit at low levels. MdMADS12 is an AP1-like gene that is expressed at similar levels in leaves, vegetative shoots, and floral tissues, and that may be involved in the transition from the juvenile to the adult stag