IDENTIFICATION OF RAPD MARKERS LINKED TO EASTERN FILBERT BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN HAZELNUT

We used the technique of bulked segregant analysis to identify five random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to eastern filbert blight resistance in a modified backcross population of hazelnut. Five hundred 10-base oligonucleotide primers were tested for polymorphic bands unique to pooled samples of DNA from resistant progeny. Further assays of the entire population indicate the occurrence of cosegregation of the markers with disease resistance, with recombination frequencies of 6.8%, 1.0%, 1.9%, 2.9% and 1.0%. Each marker was consistently amplifiable and easily scored in the segregating progeny.