Genetic mapping of resistance to purple seed stain in PI 80837 soybean

Purple seed stain (PSS) of soybean caused by Cercospora kikuchii is an important disease that reduces market grade and can affect seed germination and vigor. A single dominant gene was shown to confer PSS resistance in PI 80837. The objective of this research was to map the PSS resistance gene in PI 80837 using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A cross was made between the PSS-susceptible cultivar Agripro 350 (AP 350) and PI 80837. The F2 population and parents were grown in the field, and the resistance or susceptibility of individual plants was determined by assaying the seed for infection by C. kikuchii. DNA of parent and F2 plants was extracted for SSR analysis and mapping. Segregation ratios for seed infection and for SSR markers showed that a single dominant gene conditions resistance to PSS in PI 80837. The candidate resistance gene was mapped between Sat_308 (6.6 cM) and Satt594 (11.6 cM) on molecular linkage group G. These markers may be useful in marker-assisted selection for utilizing PSS resistance from PI 80837 in a breeding program.