Molecular markers associated with leptinine production are located on chromosome 1 in Solanum chacoense

Leptines of Solanum chacoense are effective natural deterrents against the Colorado potato beetle. Leptines are the acetylated forms of the glycoalkal oids solanine and chaconine and are supposed to be synthesised via hydroxyl ated derivatives, called leptinines. Inheritance of leptinine production wa s studied in crosses of closely related S. chacoense genotypes. The segrega tion data supported a single-gene model for the inheritance of leptinine pr oduction. In the segregating F-1 population of a S. chacoense cross, AFLP, RFLP and RAPD markers segregating with the leptinine production have been i dentified. The locus involved in leptinine synthesis was localised to the s hort arm of chromosome 1 of the potato where a major QTL for solanidine pro duction, and markers with tight linkage to leptine production, have been ma pped before. Our data further support the previous finding that the short a rm of chromosome 1 is involved in steroid alkaloid synthesis in potato, and suggest that the genes involved in leptinine and leptine production are ti ghtly linked in S. chacoense.