Development of molecular markers for the Mi-1 gene in tomato using the KASP genotyping assay

摘要

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an economically important vegetable worldwide. Root-knot nematodes have a wide host range and cause serious problems in areas where tomatoes are grown. Developing tomato varieties that are resistant to root-knot nematodes is an effective crop management strategy. The Mi-1 gene in tomato confers effective resistance against three common root-knot nematodes, i.e., Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, and M. arenaria. Nematode screening assays are commonly used in resistance breeding programs; however, they are time-consuming, laborious, and expensive. Molecular markers within, or linked to, the Mi-1 gene have enabled rapid screening of resistance alleles, without requiring nematode inoculation. Here we describe convenient markers for the Mi-1 gene locus using Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) genotyping chemistry. Sequences of SNP markers for resistance to root-knot nematodes on chromosome 6 were converted for usage in a KASP genotyping assay and tested. Our findings show that the KASP assay is suitable for high-throughput screening of large populations in tomato breeding.