Polynomial-time algorithms for the subset feedback vertex set problem on interval graphs and permutation graphs

Abstract

Given a vertex-weighted graph G=(V,E) and a set S⊆V, a subset feedback vertex set X is a set of the vertices of G such that the graph induced by V∖X has no cycle containing a vertex of S. The Subset Feedback Vertex Set problem takes as input G and S and asks for the subset feedback vertex set of minimum total weight. In contrast to the classical Feedback Vertex Set problem which is obtained from the Subset Feedback Vertex Set problem for S=V, restricted to graph classes the Subset Feedback Vertex Set problem is known to be NP-complete on split graphs and, consequently, on chordal graphs. However, whereas Feedback Vertex Set is polynomially solvable for AT-free graphs, no such result is known for the Subset Feedback Vertex Set problem on any subclass of AT-free graphs. Here we give the first polynomial-time algorithms for the problem on two subclasses of AT-free graphs: interval graphs and permutation graphs. Moreover, towards the unknown complexity of the problem for AT-free graphs, we give a polynomial-time algorithm for co-bipartite graphs. Thus, we contribute to the first positive results of the Subset Feedback Vertex Set problem when restricted to graph classes for which Feedback Vertex Set is solved in polynomial time.