Abstract

Sorghum downy mildew (SDM), caused by obligate biotrophic fungi Peronosclerospora sorghi, is an economically important disease of maize. The genetics of resistance was reported to be polygenic thereby necessitating identification of QTLs for resistance to SDM to initiate effective marker-assisted selection programs. During post-rainy and winter season of 2012, 645 F2:3 progeny families from the cross CML153 (susceptible) × CML226 (resistant) were screened for their reaction to SDM. Characterization of QTLs affecting resistance to SDM was undertaken using the genetic linkage map with 319 polymorphic SSR and SNP marker loci and the phenotypic data of F2:3 families. Three QTLs conferring resistance to SDM were consistently identified on chromosomes 2, 3 and 6 in both seasons. The resistant parent CML226 contributed all the QTL alleles conferring resistance to SDM. The major QTL located on chromosome 2 explained 38.68% of total phenotypic variation in the combined analysis with a LOD score of 9.12. All the three QTL showed partially dominant gene effects in combined analysis. The detection of more than one QTL supports the hypothesis that quantitative genes control resistance to P. sorghi. The generation was advanced to F6 using markers linked to major QTLs on chromosomes 2 and 3 to derive 33 SDM resistant maize inbred lines.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.