Identification Of Candidate Genes For Self-Compatibility In A Diploid Population Of Potato Derived From Parents Used In Genome Sequencing

Gametophytic self-incompatibility limits the ability to derive inbred lines of potato through self-pollination and is prevalent in diploid potato. Within a population of F1 hybrids between two genotypes used in potato genome sequencing, we observed fruit set on many greenhouse-grown plants. Subsequently, after controlled self-pollinations, we confirmed fruit set in 32 of 103 F1 plants. Our goal was to identify genes responsible for self-compatibility in this population and to advance selfed progeny to develop highly homozygous inbred lines. The F1 population was genotyped using a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Polymorphic and robust SNPs were analyzed by Fisher's Exact Test to identify allelic states segregating with the self-compatible phenotype. Filtering 1966 SNPs to retain only those with p-values less than 0.0001 yielded 95 highly significant SNPs, with all SNPs on anchored scaffolds located on chromosome 12. Candidate genes encoding for multiple notable proteins including an S-protein homologue were identified near highly significant SNPs on the Potato Genome Browser. Seeds obtained after self-pollination of self-compatible individuals were used to advance the population for three generations. SNP chip genotyping of the S3 generation revealed entirely different SNPs segregating for self-compatibility on nine different chromosomes. Comparison of the allelic state of SNPs in the F1 and S3 generations revealed a heterozygosity reduction by 80%, with fixation of many SNPs including those surrounding the S-protein homologue. We conclude that the genes responsible for segregation of self-compatibility in the S3 generation are different from those in the F1 generation.