AFLP Molecular Markers Linked to the Pear Scab Resistance Gene

Pear scab (caused by Venturia nashicola) is one of the most harmful diseases in pear. Molecular markers closely linked to scab resistance genes will be greatly useful for improving pear breeding by marker-assisted selection. In our study, a F₁ population (139 individuals) from the cross ‘Huangguan’ (Resistance) and ‘Yali’ (Susceptible) was analyzed, and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was conducted to find AFLP fragments linked to the locus of scab resistance in pear. Out of 64 fluorescent AFLP primers, two markers showed polymorphisms between the resistant-bulk and the susceptible-bulk, as well as between the parents. D3-365 were found linked to the resistance locus. By using selective genotype analysis, the genetic distances between the marker and the resistant locus were 14.9cM.