SNP markers for almond hull rot and bacterial spot resistance screening
A molecular marker toolkit developed at the University of Adelaide for identifying almond varieties with genetic resistance to hull rot and bacterial spot. The SNP-based assay enables breeders and nurseries to screen seedlings efficiently and select tolerant lines, reducing reliance on field trials.
Overview
Almond growers face significant losses from hull rot and bacterial spot, two diseases that affect yield, nut quality, and orchard management costs. This offering provides validated SNP molecular markers linked to genomic regions controlling disease resistance in almond. The markers were designed by leveraging the close genetic relationship between peach and almond, adapting peach QTL information to almond germplasm. Initial validation across tolerant and susceptible almond accessions confirmed that two marker sets on linkage group 6 (SNP_IGT_680889 and SNP_IGT_680909) reliably distinguish resistant from susceptible varieties. This gives almond breeders, nurseries, and growers a practical tool to accelerate selection of disease-tolerant cultivars.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Two validated SNP markers on linkage group 6 associated with bacterial spot and hull rot resistance
- Markers target a collinear region containing the ppa24306m gene from the NBS-LRR resistance gene family
- Of 29 primer sets evaluated, only the two LG6 markers consistently separated tolerant from susceptible varieties
- Designed from peach QTL regions on LG1, LG4, LG5, and LG6 that govern leaf and fruit resistance
- DNA-based assay compatible with standard laboratory extraction and PCR workflows
- Applicable to diverse almond germplasm for marker-assisted selection
How it works:
DNA is extracted from almond leaf or tissue samples, and primers specific to the resistance-linked SNPs are used to amplify target regions. Varieties carrying the tolerant allele produce a distinct amplification profile compared to susceptible varieties, allowing rapid screening without lengthy field exposure trials.
Technology readiness level
The markers have completed initial proof-of-concept validation, successfully differentiating known tolerant and susceptible almond varieties. Next-stage validation is planned using a Nonpareil (tolerant) crossed with Vairo (highly susceptible in European climates) NAM population, with phenotyping and genotyping underway to confirm marker-trait association. The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development and is ready for collaborative pilot testing with breeding programs and industry partners.
About The University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide was a comprehensive public research university in South Australia, with a city‑centre campus and specialised sites linking teaching, research and translation. Co‑location within Adelaide BioMed City placed teams beside the Royal Adelaide Hospital and SAHMRI, enabling clinical trials, while AIML at Lot Fourteen linked researchers to an innovation district. At the Waite Research Precinct, co‑located partners and infrastructure such as the Plant Accelerator supported industry‑engaged R&D. Research was backed by national funding, including the Australian Research Council and NHMRC. On January 5, 2026 it merged with the University of South Australia to form Adelaide University; these assets now operate within the new institution with dedicated tech transfer support.
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