Loading...

Molecular identification of resistant genes to Fusarium wilt and late blight in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) using marker-assisted selection


Citation :- Molecular identification of resistant genes to Fusarium wilt and late blight in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) using marker-assisted selection. Res. Crop. 27: 316-323
AIGUL MADENOVA, ERKENAZ KAYPZHAN, AIGUL NUSSUPOVA, AIGERIM JANTASSOVA, ZHURSINKUL TOKBERGENOVA, GULNAR IBRAGIMOVA AND SERIK JANTASSOV aigul.nusupova.65@mail.ru
Address : Kazakh Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, 050060 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Submitted Date : 4-05-2026
Accepted Date : 30-05-2026

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) productivity is significantly constrained by major diseases such as Fusarium wilt and late blight, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and Phytophthora infestans, respectively. Therefore, the development of resistant cultivars represents a key objective in modern breeding programs. The aim of this study was to identify resistant genes in 39 tomato genotypes using gene-linked molecular markers. Resistance to Fusarium wilt was assessed using I2/5, SCAR-At2, and SCAR-Z1063 markers, while resistance to late blight was evaluated using CAPS-Ph3.gsm and TG328 markers. The PCR-based analysis revealed substantial genetic variability among the studied genotypes. The highest frequency of resistance-associated alleles to Fusarium wilt was detected using the SCAR-At2 marker (87.2%), whereas SCAR-Z1063 showed a lower detection rate (53.8%). For late blight, CAPS-Ph3.gsm identified resistance-associated alleles in 72% of genotypes, while TG328 detected resistance in 62% of samples. Several genotypes carrying resistant alleles to both pathogens were identified, highlighting their potential as valuable genetic resources for breeding programs. The results confirm the high efficiency of marker-assisted selection as a reliable tool for the rapid identification of disease-resistant tomato genotypes and support its application in breeding strategies aimed at developing cultivars with durable and broad-spectrum resistance.

Keywords

Disease resistance Fusarium oxysporum molecular markers Phytophthora infestans resistant genes tomato


References

Asadi, Z., Savadroudbari, N. S., Amini, F. and Ramshini, H. (2025). Marker-assisted selection in segregating populations of tomatoes for resistance to TYLCV, ToMV, and Fusarium wilt. Mol. Biol. Rep. 52: doi:10.1007/s11033-024-10204-5.
Bukhari, T., Rana, R. M., Khan, A. I., Khan, M. A., Ullah, A., Naseem, M., Rizwana, H., Elshikh, M. S., Rizwan, M. and Iqbal, R. (2024). Validation of SSR markers for identification of high-yielding and Phytophthora Capsici root rot resistant chilli genotypes. Sci. Rep. 14: doi:10.1038/s41598-024-79718-z.
de Almeida, G. Q., de Oliveira Silva, J., Copati, M. G. F., de Oliveira Dias, F. and dos Santos, M. C. (2020). Tomato breeding for disease resistance. Multi-Sci. J3: 8-16. doi:10.33837/msj.v3i3.1287.
Du, M., Sun, C., Deng, L., Zhou, M., Li, J., Du, Y., Ye, Z.,  Huang, S., Li, T., Yu, J. and Li, C. (2025). Molecular breeding of tomato: Advances and challenges.  J. Integr. Plant Biol. 67: 669-721. doi: 10.1111/jipb.13879. Epub 2025 Mar 18.
Foolad, M. R and Sharma, A. (2004). Molecular markers as selection tools in tomato breeding. Acta Hortic. 695: 225-40. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.695.25.. 
Gandhi, N. and Singh, A.P. (2024). Molecular approaches for improving nutritional quality in crops. In: Nonthermal food processing, safety, and preservation (Book Eds. A. Prakash and A. Kuila). doi.org/10.1002/9781394186631.ch22.
Gao, S. and Foolad, M. R. (2024). Identification and mapping of late blight resistance QTLs in the wild tomato accession PI 224710 (Solanum pimpinellifolium). Mol. Breed. 44: doi:10.1007/s11032-024-01498-1.
Hernández-Aparicio, F., Lisón, P., Rodrigo, I., Bellés, J. M. and López-Gresa, M. P. (2021). Signaling in the tomato immunity against Fusarium oxysporum. Molecules 26: doi:10. 3390/molecules26071818.
Hounwanou, N. V., Monakhos, G. F. and Monakhos, S. G. (2024). Evaluating tomato lines resistance to Late Blight and molecular genetic screening with the use of molecular markers. Овощи России 5:12-17. doi:10.18619/2072-9146-2024-5-12-17.
Isa, A., Issa, A., Ayoubi, R. and Taunk, J. (2024). Molecular characteristics for identification of Fusarium oxysporum associated with tomato infection. J. Nat. Sci. Rev2: 265-75.                                           doi:10.62810/jnsr.v2iSpecial.Issue.129.
Jia, M., Ashrafi, H. and Foolad, M. R. (2025). Identification of late blight resistance QTLs in an interspecific RIL population of tomato via genotyping-by-sequencing. Mol. Breed45: 4:43. doi:10.1007/ s11032-025-01560-6.
Jone, M. J. H. and Panthee, D. R. (2026). Status of tomato breeding for abiotic stress tolerance. In: Tailoring the Tomato Genome for NextGen Agriculture. CRC Press. pp: 176-221.
Lee, J. M., Oh, C. S. and Yeam, I. (2015). Molecular markers for selecting diverse disease resistances in tomato breeding programs. Plant Breeding Biotechnol. 3: 308-22. doi:10.9787/ PBB.2015.3.4.308.
Mahmood, T., Aziz, N., Ullah, I., Abbasi, F. M., Ali, H  and Shah, H. (2023). Molecular identification of i-2 gene, a fusarium wilt resistant marker in selected varieties of tomato. Curr. Trends OMICS 2: 25-35. doi:10.32350/cto.22.02.
Martynov V. V., Kozar’ E. G. and Engalycheva, I. A. (2022). Features of the primary structure of the Ph-3 gene, revealed by development of a new gene-based marker of late blight resistance in tomato. Sel'skokhoz. Biol. (Agric. Biol.) 57: 954-64. doi:10.15389/agrobiology.2022.5. 954eng.
Mhetre, V. B., Dinkar, V., Vittal, H., Sirasapalli, B. K., Jain, S., Chaithra, T. S. and Patil, M. S. (2025). Gene pyramiding to increase the sustainability of crops under biotic and abiotic stresses. In: Plant Breeding Technology: Future Trends and Challenges. GB: CABI. pp.49-83. doi:10.1079/9781800626638.0003. 
Nowicki, M., Foolad, M. R., Nowakowska, M. and Kozik, E. U. (2012). Potato and tomato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans: an overview of pathology and resistance breeding. Plant Dis96: 4-17. doi:10.1094/PDIS-05-11-0458.
Ovod, E., Dubina, E  and Garkusha, S. (2022). Molecular research in tomato breeding for resistance to biotic stressors. BIO Web of Conf. 51: doi:10.1051/bioconf/20225104004. 
Pan, C., Li, X., Lu, X., Hu, J., Zhang, C., Shi, L., Zhu, C., Guo, Y., Wang, X., Huang, Z., Du, Y., Liu, L. and Li, J. (2024). Identification and functional analysis of the Ph-2 gene conferring resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in Tomato. Plants 13:  doi:10.3390/plants 13243572.
Rampersad, S. N. (2020). Pathogenomics and management of Fusarium diseases in plants. Pathogens 9: doi:10.3390/pathogens9050340. 
Shoibekova, A., Nusipzhanov, N. and Jantassov, S. (2023). Influence of Fusarium oxysporum-resistant pumpkin rootstock on cucumber productivity. Caspian J. Environ. Sci. 21: 939–46. doi:10.22124/CJES.2023.7152.
Simons, G., Groenendijk, J., Wijbrandi, J., Reijans, M., Groenen, J., Diergaarde, P. and Vos, P. (1998). Dissection of the Fusarium I2 gene cluster in tomato reveals six homologs and one active gene copy. Plant Cell 10: 1055-68. doi:10.1105/tpc.10.6.1055.
Tailor, A. and Bhatla, S. C. (2024). R gene-mediated resistance in the management of plant diseases. J. Plant Biochem. Biotechnol. 33: 5-23. doi:10.1007/s13562-023-00858-w.
Wang, Y, E., Chen, C-H., Hoffmann, A., Hsu, Y-C, Lu, S-F., Wang, J-F. and Hanson, P. (2016). Evaluation of the Ph-3 gene-specific marker developed for marker-assisted selection of late blight-resistant tomato. Plant Breed. 135: 636-42.  doi:10.1111/pbr.12395.
Yang, L., Ren, J., Yang, H., Zhou, T. and Yang, W. (2025). Presence of disease resistance genes in tomato germplasm revealed by gene-based or gene-linked molecular markers. Mol. Breed. 45: 4:34  doi:10.1007/s11032-025-01557-1.
             

Global Footprints