Caratterizzazione genetica di genotipi di Beta vulgaris L. con marcatori molecolari SCAR e SNP

The productivity of sugar beet in Italy is strongly limited by biotic and abiotic stress conditions and is still 40% lower than the average European yield. The use of sources of genetic resistance to these stresses it is a priority for the sugar beet genetic improvement. The aim of this work was to develop molecular markers linked to rhizomania resistance to be used in marker assisted breeding programmes. To achieve this aim, four molecular markers (SCAR_1, SCAR_2 e SNP_1) mapping on the Rz1 locus have been tested on two sugar beet genotypes, respectively characterized by resistance and susceptibility to rhizomania. The analysis of association between the phenotype and molecular markers, has allowed the identification of a strict relationship between the rhizomania resistance and one allelic variant of the SNP_1. Therefore, this marker might be used in marker assisted selection to produce superior sugar beet parental lines and hybrids.