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. 2025 Jun;18(2):e70028.
doi: 10.1002/tpg2.70028.

Genetic architecture of anthocyanin pigment traits and purple spot (Stemphylium vesicarium) resistance in an F1 pseudo-testcross population of asparagus

Suman Parajuli  1 , Mary Ruth McDonald  1 , Laxman Adhikari  2 , David J Wolyn  1
Affiliations

Genetic architecture of anthocyanin pigment traits and purple spot (Stemphylium vesicarium) resistance in an F1 pseudo-testcross population of asparagus

Suman Parajuli et al. Plant Genome. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Stemphylium vesicarium (Wallr.) Simmons is a plant pathogenic fungus causing purple spot in both fern and spears of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). Although the fern can be sprayed with fungicides to control the disease, pesticide applications during spear harvest are restricted. Infected spears can develop prominent pigmentation at lesion sites, reducing marketable yield. Breeding resistant asparagus cultivars with decreased lesion numbers and reduced purpling at the site of infection is considered the most economical and sustainable approach to combat this disease. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic architectures of, and relationships among, anthocyanin pigment expression in spear scale leaves (ALS) and spear lesions (APS) and purple spot levels in spears (NPS) and fern (PSF). Traits were phenotyped over 2 years under natural conditions in an F1 pseudo-testcross population, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) were mapped. ALS, APS, NPS, and PSF were not correlated, suggesting independent regulation of the anthocyanin pathway in scale leaves and lesions and no relationship between pigment and disease. Segregation, 3 red:1 purple and 3 red:13 purple, was observed in scale leaves and lesions, respectively. Two stable QTL for each of ASL, APS, and NPS, one tentative QTL for ASL, four tentative QTL for APS, two tentative QTL for NPS, and three tentative QTL for PSF were identified. Candidate genes were found for four loci. This study advances the genetic understanding of anthocyanin pigmentation at a tissue-specific level, and purple spot disease severity in spears and fern, supporting future breeding efforts.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Visual rating used to evaluate anthocyanin pigment phenotype in the scale leaves (A and B) and purple spot lesions (C and D) in an asparagus F1 pseudo‐testcross population as red (A and C) and purple (B and D).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Variation of natural anthocyanin pigment in scale leaves in an asparagus F1 pseudo‐testcross population where 1 and 9 indicate the phenotypic classes with the lowest and highest pigment levels, respectively.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Variation of anthocyanin pigment levels in response to purple spot infection in an asparagus F1 pseudo‐testcross population where 1 and 9 indicate the phenotypic classes with the highest and lowest pigment levels, respectively.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Quantitative trait loci (QTL) detected in the female parent of an asparagus F1 pseudo‐testcross population for natural levels of anthocyanin pigment at scale leaves (ASL), anthocyanin pigment levels at spear purple spot lesions (APS), number of purple spots on spears (NPS), and purple spot severity in fern (PSF); black bar: detected only in 2021; red bar: detected only in 2022; green bar: detected based on the mean of data from 2 years. For QTL, the bar represents a 1‐LOD (where LOD is logarithm of odds) support interval, and the line represents a 2‐LOD support interval.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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