Development of a set of near isogenic and backcross recombinant inbred lines containing most of the Lycopersicon hirsutum genome in a L-esculentum genetic background: A tool for gene mapping and gene discovery

A novel population consisted of a set of 99 near isogenic lines (NILs) and backcross recombinant inbred lines (BCRILs) derived from a cross between th e cultivated tomato Lycopersicon esculentum cv. E6206 and L. hirsutum acces sion LA1777 is presented. Most of the lines contain a single defined introg ression from L. hirsutum in the L. esculentum genetic background and togeth er, the lines provide a coverage of more than the 85% of the L. hirsutum ge nome. These lines represent a new tool to uncover the genetic resources hid den in L. hirsutum as well as to study the genes responsible of its unique biology. Furthermore, the study of the allelic frequency and heterozygosity among BCRILs showed that specific genomic regions were likely subjected to unintentional selection pressures during the stock development. Genes invo lved in the reproductive behavior and (or) pollen viability are hypothesize d to be responsible for these alterations.