The molecular basis of resistance to diseases in plants can be better understood if the genes coding for resistance can be
cloned. The single major dominant gene (R) that confers resistance to the white pine blister rust fungus (
Cronartium ribicola Fisch.) in sugar pine (
Pinus lambertiana Dougl.) has been previously mapped. The objectives of the present study were to saturate the region flanking R with tightly
linked markers and to construct genetic maps for each of four individual seed trees. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and haploid
segregation analysis were employed to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to R. Automated PCR
analysis was used to assay 1115 primers with susceptible and resistant DNA pools from each of four seed trees (8920 PCR reactions).
Thirteen RAPD loci were identified that were linked to R. The linkage analyses programs JoinMap 1.4 and Mapmaker 2.0 were
used to order RAPD loci relative to R and to construct maps for each of the individual seed trees. Two seed trees, 5701 and
6000, had a large number of tightly linked markers flanking R. These trees will be used in subsequent high-resolution mapping
experiments to identify very tightly linked markers to facilitate the eventual cloning of R.
Key words Pinus lambertiana - Cronartium ribicola - Bulked segregant analysis - RAPD mapping
Received: 1 May 1998 / Accepted: 13 July 1998