Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], a major food legume grown in Mali, is an important dietary protein source.
However, one of the major biotic constraints strongly limiting its production happens to be the SG2 strain of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke. In order to identify SSR markers linked to resistance gene of the race 2 of S. gesnerioides, F2 populations resulting from the crossing between the variety IT97K-499-35 (Resistant parent) and the variety Amary Sho elites (Susceptible parent) and seeds of S, gesnerioides strain from Koporo were used. Thus, 100 individuals were characterized using four markers CP333/334, CP743/744, CP115/116 and MA 62 which were polymorphic out of the 159 markers used on the parents. This study revealed that only the dominant microsatellite marker MA62 (41.9 cM) slightly linked to the Striga resistance gene present in the cowpea variety IT97K-499-35. Linked to the gene by the 700 bp allele, the dominant marker MA62 consistently segregated with the S. gesnerioides Rsg2. The identification of the MA62 marker related to Striga resistance Race 2 in Mali could be opportunity for the national breeding programs to develop a marker-assisted selection (MAS) strategy for Race 2 of S. gesnerioides.

Marker-assisted selection, microsatellites markers, Striga, Vigna unguiculata, Mali