SSR Markers Suitable for Marker Assisted Selection in Sunflower for Downy Mildew Resistance.

The effectiveness of genes is known to be resistant to downy mildew (DM) disease affected by fungus in sunflower. In this study phenotypic analysis was performed using inoculation tests and genotypic analysis were carried out with three DM resistance genes and . A total of 69 simple sequence repeat markers and 241 F individuals derived from a cross of RHA-419 (R) x P6LC (S), RHA-419 (R) x CL (S), RHA-419 (R) x OL (S), RHA419 (R) x 9758R (S), HA-R5 (R) x P6LC (S) and HA89 (R) x P6LC (S) parental lines were used to identify resistant hybrids in sunflower. Results of SSR analysis using markers linked with downy mildew resistance genes (, and ) and downy mildew inoculation tests were evaluated together and and (for ) markers showed positive correlation with their phenotypic results. These results suggest that these markers are associated with DM resistance and they can be used successfully in marker-assisted selection for sunflower breeding programs specific for downy mildew resistance.