Identification of microsatellite markers linked to powdery mildew resistance gene Pm2 in wheat

The powdery mildew resistance gene Pm2 is effective in China. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was used to search for microsatellite markers linked to Pm2. Twenty-one microsatellite primer pairs located on chromosome 5DS were screened; three polymorphic loci Xcfd81-5DS, Xgwm190-5DS, and Xcfd18-5DS were linked to Pm2 using an F-2 population from Chinese Spring x CI14118 (with Pm2) consisting of 814 individuals. The genetic distances between Pm2 and the three markers were: 2.0cM, 34.2cM and 44.2cM, respectively. Microsatellite marker Xcfd81-5DS could be used in marker assisted selection for Pm2 provided any chosen Pm2 source also carries the relevant marker.