Genetic analysis and identification of QTLs for resistance to cucumber mosaic virus in chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

A pepper (Capsicum annuum) inbred line 'BJ0747-1-3-1-1' was found to exhibit resistance to a cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) local isolate (CMV-HB). In order to exploit the genetic mechanism of CMV resistance in this pepper line, inheritance and genetic linkages of CMV resistance were studied. The CMV-resistant 'BJ0747-1-3-1-1' (P-1) was crossed to the susceptible line 'XJ0630-2-1-2-1-1' (P-2), and the F-2 and back-cross populations (B-1 and B-2) were generated for segregation analysis following a mixed inheritance model. Analysis of the segregation data revealed that CMV resistance in 'BJ0747-1-3-1-1' is controlled by two partially additive-dominant major genes and additive-dominant polygenes. Analysis of the results from two growth seasons also identified two stable and major QTLs for CMV resistance that collectively explained 55 % of the trait variation. One of the two major QTLs was found on linkage group 8 (LG8) between markers TS52 and HpmsE1-43, and accounted for 37.7-43.5 % of the variation in the two inoculation experiments. The other QTL on LG4 between markers UBC843 and S74 was found to be responsible for 10.7-11.2 % of the trait variation. QTLs with minor effects on CMV resistance were also identified. This work provides an example for genetic analysis and QTL mapping of other disease-resistance genes in pepper and the findings should be useful for molecular marker-assisted breeding programs that aim at developing disease-resistant cultivars in peppers.