Genetic Mapping and Characterization of the Clubroot Resistance Gene BraPb8.3 in Brassica rapa

Abstract

Clubroot, a significant soil-borne disease, severely impacts the productivity of cruciferous crops. The identification and development of clubroot resistance (CR) genes are crucial for mitigating this disease. This study investigated the genetic inheritance of clubroot resistance within an F2 progeny derived from the cross of a resistant parent, designated “377”, and a susceptible parent, designated “12A”. Notably, “377” exhibited robust resistance to the “KEL-23” strain of Plasmodiophora brassicae, the causative agent of clubroot. Genetic analyses suggested that the observed resistance is controlled by a single dominant gene. Through Bulked Segregant Analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) and preliminary gene mapping, we localized the CR gene locus, designated as BraPb8.3, to a 1.30 Mb genomic segment on chromosome A08, flanked by the markers “333” and “sau332-1”. Further fine mapping precisely narrowed down the position of BraPb8.3 to a 173.8 kb region between the markers “srt8-65” and “srt8-25”, where we identified 22 genes, including Bra020861 with a TIR-NBS-LRR domain and Bra020876 with an LRR domain. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses confirmed that both Bra020861 and Bra020876 exhibit increased expression levels in the resistant parent “377” following inoculation with P. brassicae, thereby underscoring their potential as key genes implicated in BraPb8.3-mediated clubroot resistance. This study not only identifies molecular markers associated with BraPb8.3 but also enriches the genetic resources available for breeding programs aimed at enhancing resistance to clubroot.