Characterization and linkage mapping of R-gene analogous DNA sequences in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) sequences that are analogous to the conserved nucleotide binding site (NBS) domain found in a number of plant disease resistance genes (R-genes) were cloned. Using redundant oligonucleotide primers and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we amplified nine pea sequences and characterised their sequences. The pea R-gene analog (RGA)-deduced amino acid sequences demonstrated significant sequence similarity with known R-gene sequences lodged in public databases. The genomic locations of eight of the pea RGAs were determined by linkage mapping. The eight RGAs identified ten loci that mapped to six linkage groups. In addition, the genomic organization of the RGAs was inferred. Both single-copy and multicopy sequence families were present among the RGAs, and the multicopy families occurred most often as tightly linked clusters of related sequences. Intraspecific copy number variability was observed in three of the RGA sequence families, suggesting that these sequence families are evolving rapidly. The genomic locations of the pea RGAs were compared with the locations of known pea R-genes and sym genes involved in the pea-rhizobia symbiosis. Two pea RGAs mapped in the genomic region containing a pea R-gene, Fw, and four pea RGAs mapped in regions of the genome containing sym genes.