RAPD and AFLP markers linked to anthracnose resistance gene in PI 320937 lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Non-Peer ReviewedColletotrichum truncatum (Schwein.) Andrus & W.D. Moore is the causal fungus for anthracnose disease in lentils. A germplasm accession, ‘PI 320937’, is among the lines used as a resistance source to develop cultivars in the breeding program. A cross of Eston (susceptible) and PI 320937 (resistant) was used to develop 147 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) to study the genetics of resistance and identify markers associated to the resistance gene. The F5:6 RILs were inoculated with C. truncatum isolate 95B36 at 105 conidia ml-1 and scored for anthracnose reactions over 2 replications in the greenhouse. About 600 RAPD and 10 AFLP primers were screened. We used bulk segregant analysis to construct contrasting DNA bulks, one containing only resistant and the other only susceptible plants based on the greenhouse tests. These polymorphic markers between parental lines were used to genotype RILs and make linkage analysis. Segregation data indicated that a single major gene (LCt-2) confers resistance. Minor genes also modified the level of resistance. Two RAPD markers; namely, OPE O61250 and UBC 704700 were linked in repulsion and coupling at 6.4 and 10.8 cM, respectively, to the resistance gene. Also, 3 AFLP markers were identified within 30 cM distance from the resistance locus. These markers will be useful in lentil breeding via marker-assisted selection towards developing cultivars with anthracnose resistance