Association mapping of quantitative resistance for Leptosphaeria maculans in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Stem canker caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans is a major disease of Brassica napus. Quantitative resistance factors appear to be important components for effective and durable control of this pathogen. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for stem canker resistance have previously been identified in the Darmor variety. However, before these QTL can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) to breed resistant varieties, they must be validated in a wide range of genetic backgrounds. We used an association mapping approach to confirm the markers located within the QTL previously identified in Darmor and establish their usefulness in MAS. For this, we characterized the molecular diversity of an oilseed rape collection of 128 lines showing a large spectrum of responses to infection by L. maculans, using 72 pairs of primers for simple sequence repeat and other markers. We used different association mapping models which either do or do not take into account the population structure and/or family relatedness. In all, 61 marker alleles were found to be associated with resistance to stem canker. Some of these markers were associated with previously identified QTL, which confirms their usefulness in MAS. Markers located in regions not harbouring previously identified QTL were also associated with resistance, suggesting that new QTL or allelic variants are present in the collection. All of these markers associated with stem canker resistance will help identify accessions carrying desirable alleles and facilitate QTL introgression.