Two sugar beet chitinase genes, <i>BvSP2</i> and <i>BvSE2</i> , analysed with SNP Amplifluor-like markers, are highly expressed after Fusarium root rot inoculations and field susceptibility trial

A strong association of two SNP markers for <i>BvSP2</i> and <i>BvSE2</i> with resistance to RR in sugar beet was found in our study. Very high <i>BvSP2</i> expression (100-fold compared to Controls) was observed in three RR resistant accessions (2182, 2236 and KWS2320) 14 days after inoculation which returned to the control level on Day 18. RR sensitive breeding line 2210 showed a delay in mRNA level, reaching maximal expression of <i>BvSP2</i> 18 days after inoculation. The gene <i>BvSE2</i>, showed a strong expression level in leaf samples from the infected field trial only in the breeding line 2236, which showed symptoms of RR, and this may be a response to other strains of <i>F. oxysporum</i>.