Screening of Turkish Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Genotypes for Ascochyta Blight Resistance using Molecular Markers

Abstract

ABSTRACTMolecular markers have become important tools for genetic analyses of crop species and indirect selection for resistance in a breeding program. RAPD, ISSR and STMS markers were used to screen Turkish chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes and to test whether these markers would permit rapid selection of resistant genotypes to Ascochyta blight in breeding programs. A total of 10 molecular markers of RAPD, ISSR and STMS, which are located in the chickpea genome and proved to be flanked to QTLs controlling Ascochyta blight resistance were scored in the 49 known Ascochyta blight resistant and susceptible chickpea genotypes (13 cultivars, 1 landrace, 33 breeding lines and 2 parents of a mapping population of Ascochyta blight resistance). Among the 10 primers tested, one RAPD primer, UBC733, and one STMS primer, TA2, amplified DNA fragments of 850 bp and 175 bp respectively, which were present in the resistant genotypes but not in the susceptible ones. The availability of these markers associated with Ascochyta blight resistance will greatly enhance development and selection for Ascochyta blight resistant Turkish genotypes in future breeding programs.