Development of Gene-targeted Markers for Verticillium Resistance in Chile Peppers (Capsicum)

Verticillium wilt, caused primarily by Verticillium dahlia, is a devastating disease of chile pepper (Capsicum sp.)  Development of functional gene markers located in or near the candidate genes of host resistance to V. dahlia promises to be an efficient and effective approach for germplasm evaluation and resistant gene incorporation in chile peppers.  A resistant accession, NM14C661, and a susceptible accession, NM14C107 to Verticillium wilt have been identified in Capsicum annuum L. In this study, using Ve genes in tomato and potato as reference sequences, conserved Ve homologs were pinpointed in chile pepper genome by similarity gene analysis.  Based on the conserved Ve homologs, specific primer pairs were designed, and Ve homologs from accessions NM14C661 and NM14C107 were amplified, cloned and sequenced.  Allelic gene-targeted markers were developed for Verticillium wilt resistance in chile pepper.  This research will substantively benefit chile pepper cultivar improvement by introgressing Verticillium wilt resistance using molecular assisted selections.