QTL mapping of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2 and Papaya ringspot virus in Citrullus amarus

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics 2020-02, Vol.133 (2), p.677-687
• Main Authors: Branham, Sandra E., Patrick Wechter, W., Ling, Kai-Shu, Chanda, Bidisha, Massey, Laura, Zhao, Guangwei, Guner, Nihat, Bello, Marco, Kabelka, Eileen, Fei, Zhangjun, Levi, Amnon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural research; Agriculture; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Chromosome Mapping; Citrullus - genetics; Citrullus - metabolism; Citrullus - physiology; Citrullus amarus; Citrullus lanatus; Cultivars; Disease; Disease resistance; Disease Resistance - genetics; Disease Resistance - physiology; Diseases and pests; Fungi; Fungi, Phytopathogenic; Fusarium - pathogenicity; Fusarium oxysporum; Gene mapping; Genetic aspects; Genetic resources; Germplasm; Heredity; Life Sciences; Methods; Original Article; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Diseases - genetics; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plant Diseases - virology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant immunology; Plant virus diseases; Plant viruses; Population genetics; Potyvirus - pathogenicity; Quantitative Trait Loci; Virus diseases of plants; Watermelons; Wilt
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/s00122-019-03500-3

Key message A Citrullus amarus mapping population segregating for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2 and Papaya ringspot virus was used to identify novel QTL, important for the improvement in watermelon disease resistance. Multiple disease screens of the USDA Citrullus spp. germplasm collection have highlighted the value of Citrullus amarus (citron melon or wild watermelon) as a resource for enhancing modern watermelon cultivars ( Citrullus lanatus ) with resistance to a broad range of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases of watermelon. We have generated a genetic population of C. amarus segregating for resistance to two important watermelon diseases: Fusarium wilt (caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum ; Fon race 2) and Papaya ringspot virus-watermelon strain (PRSV-W). QTL mapping of Fon race 2 resistance identified seven significant QTLs, with the major QTL representing a novel genetic source of resistance and an opportunity for gene pyramiding. A single QTL was associated with resistance to PRSV-W, which adhered to expectations of a prior study indicating a single-gene recessive inheritance in watermelon. The resistance loci identified here provide valuable genetic resources for introgression into cultivated watermelon for the improvement in disease resistance.