Development and validation of SNP assays for the selection of resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in soybean

Abstract This work aimed to develop and validate individual SNP molecular markers previously identified in a genetic association study of resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in soybean using a microarray panel. The markers identified in the array were converted in single TaqMan® markers. The single markers were used to create an SNP genotyping protocol and establish a marker-assisted selection (MAS) routine associated with resistance to M. incognita in soybean. Out of the eight TaqMan® assays tested, three were validated for use in MAS. The MAS protocol developed in this study uses sequential selection. Initially, molecular markers are used to identify susceptible plants; subsequently, the phenotypic evaluation of plants expressing resistance genotype for the markers is carried out, resulting in the accurate identification of resistant plants. The accuracy of this approach for MAS sequential for M. incognita varied from 94 to 96%.