The Potato virus S resistance gene Ns maps to potato chromosome VIII

The dominant allele Ns confers in potato resistance to Potato virus S (PVS). To identify the chromosomal location of Ns, we mapped the Ns-linked marker SCG17448 and the ISSR marker UBC811600 to linkage group VIII of the RFLP map of a population that did not segregate for Ns. The map position of the Ns locus on chromosome VIII was confirmed with the detection of linkage between Ns and three RFLP markers, GP126, GP189 and CP16, known to be located in a corresponding region on potato chromosome VIII. PCR-based assays were developed for these RFLP markers. The PCR primers specific for GP126 generated polymorphic products (STS marker). In the case of markers GP189 and CP16, informative polymorphism was revealed in the Ns population after digestion with the restriction enzymes HaeIII and HindIII, respectively. The genetic distance between Ns and the closest CP16 locus was 4.2 cM.