Cloning by map
position:
The Rhg4 locus on Linkage Group A2 confers resistance to race 3 of the
soybean cyst nematode. We are
attempting to clone the Rhg4 by map-position-based cloning techniques. The
Rhg4 locus is very tightly linked (0.35 cM) with the I locus conferring
black seed coat. Chalcone
synthase is encoded at the I locus and a restriction fragment length
polymorhism (RFLP) identified by probe pBLT65 also is closely linked to the I
locus. We developed
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using primers designed from pBLT65 for
detecting variation between SCN-resistant and -sensitive soybean at this locus
(Fig 1) and designed primers designed to detect variations in the I locus
using PCR.
Primer 548
GCA GAT ATC AAC AGT TGG GAC
Primer 563
GGA ATG GAC AGC TCG TAA AGC C

Figure 1: Products from PCR amplification of genomic DNA from PI290136
(Noir), BARC-2 (Rj4) (lanes 1 and 2) and from F2/F3 plants segregating
from a cross of Noir x BARC-2 (Rj4) (lanes 3-7). Lane M contains a
molecular weight marker with 1.0 kb indicated.
Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries made from genomic DNA of
Williams (susceptible) and PI437.654 were screened in collaboration with the
Shoemaker and Knap laboratories, respectively, using these markers. The PCR
assay is useful using a number of genotypes (Fig. 2) and Table 1.
A map of one BAC in the region is under construction.

Figure 2: The fragments amplified by
primers 548 and 563 are also amplified using DNA from other soybean cultivars,
indicating that these primers will be of general use for marker-assisted
selection in breeding programs. Genomic DNA from 20 cultivars was subjected to
PCR amplification with primers 548 and 563 and separated on a 2% agarose gel. Lane
M denotes a 1-kb DNA marker. Lane numbers and cultivars are listed
in Table 1.