DNA Markers in Solanaceae Breeding

Abstract

In solanaceous crops, such as tomato, potato, pepper, and eggplant, continuous efforts to develop DNA markers and to construct linkage maps have been made by a number of researchers since the 1980s. The earliest such attempts were based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms, followed by PCR-based DNA markers (random amplified polymorphic DNA and amplified fragment length polymorphisms). More sophisticated sequence-tagged technologies such as simple sequence repeats and single nucleotide polymorphisms have enabled interspecific comparative analysis of linkage maps and related genomic information among solanaceous species. Biparental genetic analysis using DNA marker linkage maps provided useful information for developing selectable markers for practical breeding, especially for traits (such as vertical disease resistance) controlled by a single gene or a few major genes. For more complex traits (such as yield and fruit quality), map-based quantitative trait locus analysis has become a standard method for developing selectable markers, but it remains difficult to apply this technology to practical breeding. Marker-assisted genetic analysis and breeding by using comprehensive genome-wide information (genome-wide association studies and genomic selection) are expected to be a breakthrough in the improvement of agronomically important quantitative traits in these solanaceous crops.