Molecular Screening of Pea Germplasm for Rust Disease Resistance using SSR Marker

In order to determine the association of molecular markers with the pea rust resistance, thirty two diverse pea genotypes were phenotypically screened on the basis of disease reaction followed by molecular screening using four SSR markers - AA446 and AA505 flanking the major QTL Qruf; AD146 and AA416 flanking the minor QTL, Qruf1 associated with pea rust resistance. SSR markers AD146 flanking the minor QTL, Qruf1 were able to identify one moderately resistant (Pant P 42), six moderately susceptible genotypes and four susceptible genotypes (25-30 percent disease severity) with amplified fragment of 430bp. Whereas, SSR markers AA416 flanking the minor QTL, Qruf1amplified a fragment of 280bp in four moderately susceptible genotypes, seven susceptible genotypes (25-30 percent disease severity) and one susceptible genotypes with 49.17 percent severity (HUDP1301). It was observed that most of the germplasm with disease severity of less than 30 percent showed the presence of Qruf and/or Qruf1 governing partial resistance against rust. Therefore, molecular screening of germplasm may conclude that these SSR markers (AA446, AA505, AD146 and AA416) if used together, can be effective in marker assisted selection (MAS) of pea rust resistance