Mapping of QTL for Resistance to White Mold Disease in Common Bean

Abstract

White mold (WM), incited by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is a serious disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). However, plant breeders have had very limited success in developing resistant (R) cultivars. Molecular markers linked to genes for R to WM may improve selection for R. The objective was to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) for partial physiological resistance (PPR), partial field resistance (PFR), porosity over the furrow (POF), and plant height (PH) in a linkage map by means of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross ‘PC‐50’ (R) × XAN‐159 (susceptible). The parents and RILs were inoculated in two separate greenhouse experiments for each isolate and were also infected naturally in the field. Significant correlations (0.39, 0.47) were found for the WM reactions in the greenhouse and field. Nine candidate QTL were found affecting PPR isolate 152 (comparison‐wise P < 0.05) with strong evidence (genome‐wise P < 0.01) for three QTL on linkage groups (LGs) 4, 7, and 8, based on composite interval mapping analysis. Candidate QTL affecting PPR to isolate 279 were found on LGs 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 with very strong evidence (genome‐wise P < 0.001) for a QTL linked to the C locus for seedcoat pattern. Seven candidate QTL for PFR were observed on LGs 4, 7, 8, and 11. Six of the seven candidate QTL for PFR were found in the same locations as QTL for PPR. However, two of the seven genomic regions were associated with PFR and POF that may contribute to disease avoidance.