A SCAR marker linked to the ToMV resistance gene, Tm2², in tomato

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based co-dominant marker was developed which is tightly linked to Tm2². This dominant locus confers resistance to ToMV in tomato. Random-amplified-polymorphic DNA (RAPD) screening was carried out with DNA from ToMV-susceptible and resistant tomato near-isogenic lines. A polymorphic band linked to ToMV resistance was observed. The polymorphic fragment was cloned and the DNA sequences of both ends determined. Specific PCR primers were designed from these sequences. PCR amplification with the specific primers resulted in an amplified band (SCAR) in both susceptible and resistant tomato lines. The amplified band from the susceptible lines could, however, be discerned from that of the resistant ones after cleavage with the restriction enzyme Hind III. In an F₂ population of 90, the polymorphic markers co-segregated with susceptibility or resistance, as determined by biological assays for ToMV resistance. The reported SCAR marker is linked to ToMV resistance not only in cultivars derived from American lineage, but also from European lineage. This method enables the distinction of homozygous and heterozygous individual plants in segregating populations, and provides a convenient and rapid assay for both selection and quality control during breeding programs and hybrid seed production, respectively.