Prunus persica Genome Re-sequencing. Prunus persica

Peach gummosis is one of the most widespread and destructive diseases threatening peach production worldwide. Stunting growth, causing yield loss, and branch, trunk and tree death, it is becoming a restrictive factor for the healthy and sustainable development of peach production. The selection of gummosis-resistant cultivars seems to be a highly feasible strategy. Currently, the genetic mechanism of peach gummosis remains unclear. In this study, the gummosis disease in large-scale peach core accessions was scored in the experimental field for two years. A group of highly resistant accessions, especially the traditional landraces, were identified: These are potential resistant parents to enrich the gene pool in modern peach breeding programs. GWAS combined with RNA-seq was used to identify the associated SNP markers and candidate genes. The aim was to gain insights into the genetic basis of this complex trait and apply the results in a peach genomic selection breeding program.