Genome haplotype phasing and comparison of eastern filbert blight resistance sources in European hazelnut (Corylus avellana)

The European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is a globally important tree nut crop with significant genetic diversity.
Breeding efforts have focused on identifying sources of resistance to eastern filbert blight (EFB) and combining resistance with nut yield and kernel quality.
The Oregon State University (OSU) breeding program has used molecular markers and linkage mapping to study EFB resistance.
In parallel, a reference assembly and transcriptome have been produced for the EFB-resistant cultivar ‘Jefferson’ by integrating PacBio HiFi with Illumina reads of its parents ‘OSU 252.146’ and ‘OSU 414.062’. Five other genomes representing unique, qualitative sources of EFB resistance have been sequenced and assembled using trio-based haplotype-resolving methods.
Genome comparisons including gene synteny will enable identification of resistance genes, allowing identification of contributions from resistant and susceptible parents.
These efforts will also aid the development of molecular markers for breeding efforts and fine mapping of the resistance regions.

X International Congress on Hazelnut

S. Talbot, J.W. Snelling, K.J. Vining, S.A. Mehlenbacher

filbert, haplotype-resolved assembly, comparative genomics, genome sequence

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2023.1379.15