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病害，目前在英国大部分豌豆种植区流行。它已成为豌豆生产的一个重大制约因素，而由于消费者对植物蛋白的偏好越来越大，对这种作物的需求激增。这种复合物会导致严重的根系损伤，影响植物的固氮能力，并可能导致作物全部歉收。没有遗传或化学解决方案可以控制这种毁灭性疾病的传播。确定新的遗传抗性来源并开发抗性豌豆品种以应对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种是抗病变异的丰富来源。该项目将探讨豌豆多样性小组对一系列与根腐病相关的病原体的变化。该项目将有助于理解豌豆根腐病复合体的遗传结构。鉴定出的抗性将通过标记辅助选择转移到优良豌豆品种中。

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.