Improving the resistance of eggplant (Solanum melongena) to Verticillium wilt using wild species Solanum linnaeanum

Abstract

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae, is a soil-borne disease of the cultivated eggplant (Solanum melongena). The accession PI388846 from a wild species S. linnaeanum, shows resistance to Verticillium wilt. The introgression of its disease resistance gene into cultivated eggplants would allow for breeding disease resistant eggplants. In this study, interspecific hybridization and subsequent backcrossing between PI388846 and cultivated eggplants were performed. The results showed that Verticillium wilt resistance was successfully introduced into the cultivated eggplants, and the agronomic traits of the interspecific hybrid progeny were improved by continuous backcrossing with the cultivated eggplants. In addition, a gene specific marker for the Ve homolog in PI388846 was developed to detect Verticillium wilt resistance in the backcross population. The results represent a positive beginning for the genetic enhancement of cultivated eggplants for Verticillium wilt resistance.