Genetic analysis and identification of SSR marker linked to powdery mildew resistance in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

The inheritance of powdery mildew resistance in bitter gourd resistant line IIHR-144-1 was studied in cross with two susceptible lines Arka Harit and IIHR Sel-5-8. The segregation ratios in F2 and backcross progenies indicated that resistance is governed by dominant-recessive epistasis or dominant inhibitory epistasis, indicating the involvement of more than one pairs of genes, one dominant and one recessive for resistance along with other background minor genes in the resistant line IIHR-144-1. Bulk segregant analysis of F2 population of cross between IIHR-144-1 and Arka Harit using SSR markers identified McSSR 57 produced a polymorphic DNA fragment that co-segregated with disease reaction. Considering the cross compatibility between Momordica charantia L. and M. charantia var. muricata (IIHR-144-1) the resistance trait can be transferred to cultivated species through hybridization and selection.