Molecular marker screening of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) germplasm for Meloidogyne arenaria resistance

Abstract

A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) marker linked to a locus for resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood race 1, along with visual evaluation following root staining were used to screen four breeding populations and three lines of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in a root-knot nematode infested field. COAN and Florunner peanut cultivars were used as resistant and susceptible controls, respectively. Genomic DNA was isolated from young leaves of plants during the growing season, and Southern blot analysis was conducted using RFLP probe R2430E. Only COAN and the line TP301-1-8 were homozygous for the resistance marker. During evaluation, root masses were counted and the resistance phenotype scored. This field data confirmed the RFLP marker results. Except for COAN and TP301-1-8, all other genotypes displayed high levels of nematode reproduction. The RFLP probe R2430E provided a useful marker for identifying resistance to the peanut root-knot nematode.

Keywords: Arachis hypogaea L., genetics, host resistance, Meloidogyne spp., molecular markers, peanut root-knot nematode.

African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(26) 2608-2612