The effect of a thrips resistance QTL in different Capsicum backgrounds

Abstract

Thrips are a worldwide threat to Capsicum because they damage fruits, flowers and leaves directly by feeding, and indirectly by vectoring tospoviruses such as tomato spotted wilt virus. Therefore, growers would benefit from thrips-resistant varieties. Previously, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that provides resistance to Frankliniella occidentalis has been identified. Here we explore the potential of this QTL for breeding thrips-resistant varieties by studying its effect on two thrips species (i.e. F. occidentalis and Thrips tabaci) in four different Capsicum annuum backgrounds. We observed differences in thrips resistance between different genetic backgrounds, both in plants that have the resistance allele for the QTL region in homozygous state as well as in plants with the susceptibility allele in homozygous state. This suggests the presence of factors in these backgrounds that either increase or reduce thrips resistance. Altogether, we confirmed the major effect of the QTL on thrips resistance in all four genetic backgrounds to both F. occidentalis and T. tabaci, thus showing its general applicability as a source for breeding thrips-resistant Capsicum varieties.

Quantitative trait loci analysis of glucosinolate, sugar, and organic acid concentrations in Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa

“…DNA was extracted from the collected mapping population samples using DNeasy Plant Kits (Qiagen, Manchester, UK) according to the manufacturer protocol. Extracted samples were sent to Bejo Zaden BV (Warmenhuizen, The Netherlands) for genotyping according to the protocol of van Haperen et al ( 2020 ). Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) primers for selected SNPs are provided in Additional File 10 .…”

Fine mapping of a thrips resistance QTL in Capsicum and the role of diterpene glycosides in the underlying mechanism

“…In pepper, Maharijaya et al ( 2011 ) identified the wild Capsicum annuum accession CGN16975 as a potential source for thrips resistance. Further characterization of the resistance showed that the larval development is inhibited on young leaves (Maharijaya et al 2012 ; Van Haperen et al 2019 ), and that resistance was functional in several Capsicum backgrounds (Van Haperen et al 2020 ). QTL mapping for resistance to Frankliniella occidentalis was carried out in an F 2 population derived from an interspecific cross between the resistant Capsicum annuum CGN16975 and the susceptible Capsicum chinense CGN17219 (Maharijaya et al 2015 ).…”