Marker-assisted breeding for Downy mildew, Powderey mildew and Phylloxera resistance at FEM

The genetic improvement program for resistance to biotic stresses began at the Edmund Mach Foundation (FEM) in 2010. Initially, both genotypic and phenotypic characterization of materials acquired from other breeding programs and wild material collected in New Jersey was conducted. Both the genotypes known in the international databases and the unknown genotypes, both related and unrelated, were used as parental lines in the process of introgression and pyramiding of loci of interest. Once the crossbreeds were planned and obtained, the evaluation of the progeny took place following a Marker-Assisted Selection process: at first the phenotypic selection in the greenhouse occurred based on the type of disease and the number of loci expected for the same disease; then we proceeded with molecular screening based on the specific loci expected in the parental groups. Five Run/Ren loci are associated with the resistance to powdery mildew present in the FEM program; with respect to the loci associated with the downy mildew resistance, four Rpv loci are well represented in the crossing plan. To date, 26% of F1 is pyramided for four resistance loci.