African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (3), pp. 247-250, March 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Quantitative trait loci for head-bug resistance in sorghum

M. Deu¹, A. Ratnadass²*, M. A. Hamada², J.L. Noyer³, M. Diabate^2† & J. Chantereau⁴

¹CIRAD-CA, UMR 1096/PIA, TA 40/03, F-34398 Montpellier, France

²ICRISAT-CIRAD, BP 320 Bamako, Mali

³CIRAD-AMIS, UMR 1096/PIA, TA 40/03, F-34398 Montpellier, France

⁴CIRAD-CA, Programme CALIM, TA 73/09, F-34398 Montpellier, France

Corresponding author.  E-mail: ratnadass@cirad.fr; Tel: +261 20 44 49236.

Accepted 23 December, 2004

QTLs were mapped in F2 progeny derived from a cross between the head-bug resistant sorghum cultivar Malisor 84-7 and susceptible S 34. The phenotypic evaluation was conducted in Mali. The mapped population consisted of 217 F2 plants, with 345 homologous and heterologous RFLP probes and 49 microsatellite markers tested. Eighty-one RFLP markers revealed polymorphism between the two parents, and 14 microsatellite markers gave usable amplification products. A genetic map including 92 loci distributed over 13 linkage groups, and covering a total distance of 1160 cM was built. Three significant and seven putative QTLs were detected and placed on the map.

Key words: Head-bug, Eurystylus oldi, sorghum, resistance, RFLP, microsatellite, QTL.