QTL mapping for resistance against non-parasitic leaf spots in a spring barley doubled haploid population

Phenotypic variability for resistance against non-parasitic leaf spots (NPLS) has been observed between varieties. For the genetic characterization of NPLS resistance, a population with 430 doubled haploid (DH) lines was developed from the cross between the NPLS-resistant Hordeum vulgare breeding line IPZ24727 and the NPLS-sensitive barley cultivar Barke. A molecular map was constructed based on 164 AFLPs, 30 SSRs and one STS marker derived from the mlo gene. Field trials were performed over four environments in which NPLS and other agronomic traits were assessed. Estimates of genotypic variance were highly significant for NPLS. Moreover, no transgression was found for the trait. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for NPLS resistance were mapped in the DH population on chromosomes 1H, 4H, and 7H, with the most important effect on chromosome 4H. The QTLs for NPLS explained together 39% of the phenotypic and 49% of the genotypic variance, thereby showing additive gene action. Consequently, marker-assisted selection for improving NPLS resistance is possible.