Identification of two AFLP markers linked to bacterial wilt resistance in tomato and conversion to SCAR markers

Tomato bacterial wilt (BW) incited by Ralstonia solanacearum is a constraint on tomato production in tropical, subtropical and humid regions of the world. In this paper, we present the results of a research aimed at the identification of PCR-based markers amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) linked to the genes that confer resistance to tomato BW. To this purpose, bulked segregant analysis was applied to an F2 population segregating for the BW resistant gene and derived from the pair-cross between a BW resistant cultivar T51A and the susceptible cultivar T9230. Genetic analysis indicated that tomato BW was conferred by two incomplete dominant genes. A CTAB method for total DNA extraction, developed by Murray and Thompson with some modifications was used to isolation the infected tomato leaves. Thirteen differential fragments were detected using 256 primer combinations, and two AFLP markers were linked to the BW resistance. Subsequently, the AFLP markers were converted to co-dominant SCAR markers, named TSCARAAT/CGA and TSCARAAG/CAT. Linkage analysis showed that the two markers are on the contralateral side of TRSR-1. Genetic distance between TSCARAAT/CGA and TRS-1 was estimated to 4.6 cM, while 8.4 cM between TSCARAAG/CAT and TRS-1.