CucCAP scientists identify QTL for Phytophthora resistance in squash

Root and crown rot caused by Phytophthora capsici continues to cause major economic losses in squash and pumpkin production. Recently, the breeding of new squash lines with improved resistance was described (LaPlant et al, 2020; February feature). To facilitate deployment of this resistance in commercial breeding programs, CucCAP scientists from the Cornell University research groups of Michael Mazourek and Christine Smart, along with Michael Gore’s lab, combined linkage mapping and bulked segregant methods for molecular mapping and QTL identification. Breeding approaches for root and crown rot resistance can use the presence of resistance associated SNPS in these regions as fixed effect markers in genomic selection program or as a preliminary selection criteria combined with phenotyping.


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