Poster Session: Molecular and Cellular Plant-Microbe Interactions - Proteomics/Metabolomics/Genomics
785-P
Genomics study of limber pine genetic resistance to white pine blister rust.
J. J. LIU (1), A. W. Schoettle (2), R. A. Sniezko (3), N. Wang (4), A. Zamany (1), R. Sturrock (1), A. Kegley (3)
(1) Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Victoria, BC, Canada; (2) USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, U.S.A.; (3) USDA Forest Service, Dorena Genetic Resource Center, Cottage Grov
Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is a keystone species in high-elevation landscapes of western North America with ecological importance. Like other white pines species native to North America, limber pine trees are infected and killed by exotic white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) throughout its geographical ranges, but few studies of genetic resistance mechanisms have been reported. Recently a single dominant resistance gene (Cr4) was discovered for genetic control of an inherited stem disease-free trait by artificial rust inoculation (Schoettle et al. 2014). To provide genomic insight into molecular limber pine-blister rust interactions and find DNA markers for breeding selection of Cr4, we performed de novo sequencing of the transcriptome by RNA-seq analysis using stem and needle tissues. Using bioinformatic analyses, we identified a large number of gene members of the disease resistant families as well as candidate genes for conifer defense response upon disease infection. Genetic variations with focus on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were determined by transcriptome comparison between resistant and susceptible families. SNPs found in disease resistance gene families and unique resistant seed families were selected and subjected to high-throughput SNP genotyping. We will present an update on our ongoing research on association and linkage analysis of P. flexilis SNP genotypes with phenotypic resistance to white pine blister rust.