Identifying and exploiting the novel sources of genetic resistance for root diseases of pea

根腐病是豌豆最具破坏性的疾病，现在在英国大多数豌豆种植区都是地方性疾病。它已经成为豌豆生产的一个重要制约因素，同时由于消费者对植物蛋白的偏好越来越高，对这种作物的需求激增。这种复合体会造成严重的根部损害，影响植物固定氮素的能力，并可能导致作物全面歉收。目前还没有基因或化学方法来控制这种毁灭性疾病的传播。识别新的遗传抗性来源和开发抗性豌豆品种以对抗根腐病的威胁已成为当务之急。豌豆的地方品种和野生近缘代表了丰富的抗病变异来源。该项目将探索豌豆多样性小组对一系列与根腐病相关的病原体的变异。该项目将有助于理解豌豆根腐病复合体的遗传结构。利用分子标记辅助选择，鉴定出的抗性将被转移到豌豆的优良品种中。

The root rot complex is the most destructive disease of pea and is now endemic across most pea growing areas of UK. It has become a significant constraint to pea production while there is a spike in demand for this crop due to consumers' increasing preference for plant-based protein. The complex causes severe root damage affecting the plant's ability to fix nitrogen and can lead to total crop failure. There are no genetic or chemical solutions available to control the spread of this devastating disease. It has become imperative to identify novel sources of genetic resistance and develop resistant pea varieties to counter the threat of root rots. The landraces and wild relatives of pea represent a rich source of variation for disease resistance. The project will explore the variation in a Pisum diversity panel against an array of pathogens associated with root rot diseases. The project will facilitate understanding of the genetic architecture of root rot complex in pea. Identified resistances will be transferred into elite pea varieties, using marker-assisted selection.