Abstract
We have previously shown that two circular plasmid-like DNAs (the S and the R plasmids) can be found in the mitochondria of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), a dioecious monocotyledonous tree. The two plasmids differ essentially by the absence, in the R plasmid, of a 109-bp DNA segment. Using 36 date palm varieties and employing a PCR-based approach, we show that the simultaneous presence of the R plasmid and absence of the S plasmid can be considered as a reliable molecular marker of resistance to a vascular wilt (Bayoud disease) caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis. Conversely, the simultaneous presence of the S plasmid and absence of the R plasmid is correlated to Bayoud disease susceptibility The availibility of this diagnostic tool for plasmid characterization should subsequently allow simple, rapid and efficient selection of Bayoud-resistant individuals from the large number of date palms obtained by natural crosses which display good date quality.
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Received: 14 August 2000 / Accepted: 10 November 2000
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Quenzar, B., Trifi, M., Bouachrine, B. et al. A mitochondrial molecular marker of resistance to Bayoud disease in date palm. Theor Appl Genet 103, 366–370 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001220100572
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001220100572