Identification of a putative cation transporter gene from sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L.) by DDRT-PCR closely linked to the beet cyst nematode resistance gene Hs1pro-1

Abstract

The beet cyst nematode ( Heterodera schachtii Schm.) is a widespread pest that causes agronomic losses in sugar beet cultivation. Since no nematode resistance genes have been found in Beta vulgaris L. cultivars, a chromosomal fragment from Beta procumbens has been bred into cultivated sugar beet in order to provide resistance to Heterodera schachtii. The introgressed translocation carries the nematode resistance gene Hs1 pro-1 and may also contain genes that are linked to the defense response and/or signal transduction. A novel cDNA designated Bp23 was isolated from the translocation in this work by comparing resistant and susceptible sugar beets of a segregating F 2 population by differential display. Bp23 shows similarity to Arabidopsis thaliana BAC clones and to diverse plant ESTs with similarity to the Escherichia coli cation transporter ChaC. The open reading frame could encode a hydrophilic protein of 25 kDa that is similar to cation transporters and has a presumptive K + selective motif at the N-terminus.