Identification of Two QTLs Controlling Flax Resistance to Fusarium Wilt

A bulk segregant analysis (BSA) was used to analyze the F₂ population from crossing two flax varieties that differ in fusarium wilt resistance genes. The causative agent of this disease, the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini is one of the main pathogens of flax, causing huge economic damage to its global production. Sequencing of DNA pools of highly resistant and sensitive to fusarium wilt F₂ plants and their subsequent analysis identified two regions on chromosomes 9 and 13 that caused resistance to fusarium wilt. Candidate genes for subsequent analysis are selected by functional gene annotation and analysis of gene expression of QTL regions in the transcriptomic data obtained as a result of the infection of the fusarium-resistant Atalante variety. As a result of combining the two approaches, three genes are identified in each of the QTL regions, which, according to the published data, are involved in the plant’s response to infection and are differentially expressed in the transcriptome experiment.