Physical and genetic maps of chickpea a QTL related to Ascochyta blight resistance and located in LG2 (QTLAR3) have been constructed. Single-copy markers based on candidate genes located in the Ca2 pseudomolecule were for the first time obtained and found to be useful for refining the QTL position. The location of the QTLAR3 peak was linked to an ethylene insensitive 3-like gene (Ein3). The Ein3 gene explained the highest percentage of the total phenotypic variation for resistance to blight (44.3 %) with a confidence interval of 16.3 cM. This genomic region was predicted to be at the Ca2 physical position 32-33 Mb, comprising 42 genes. Candidate genes located in this region include Ein3, Avr9/Cf9 and Argonaute 4, directly involved in disease resistance mechanisms. However, there are other genes outside the confidence interval that may play a role in the blight resistance pathway. The information reported in this paper will facilitate the development of functional markers to be used in the screening of germplasm collections or breeding materials, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of conventional breeding methods. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN; project RTA2010-00059), co-financed with European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). E. Madrid was financed by ‘Juan de la Cierva’ grant.

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