Assisted selection using molecular markers linked to rust resistance SH3 gene in Coffea arabica

The aim of this work was to validate markers linked to the SH3 gene of coffee leaf rust (CLR) resistance and use them in assisted selection. Initially, we validated the markers in genotypes already known to carry SH3. Next, we performed phenotype and genotype evaluation for resistance to CLR in coffee plants growing under field conditions. We used Arabica coffee progenies derived from BA-10, which carries the SH3 gene due to introgression of C. liberica. Three SCAR markers (SP-M16-SH3, BA-48-21O-f, and BA-124-12K-f) and one SSR marker (Sat244) linked to SH3 gene were used to amplify the coffee plants’ DNA. Our assessments of markers validation in resistant genotypes, SP-M16-SH3 and BA-124-12K-f, were efficient to identify the SH3 gene. These two markers were used to evaluate the progenies derived from BA-10 and were significantly linked to the phenotype evaluations. The SP-M16-SH3 marker was more efficient, with the advantage of being codominant.