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Title: Release of pea germplasm with Fusarium resistance combined with desirable yield and anti-lodging traits

Author
item Porter, Lyndon
item Grunwald, Niklaus - Nik
item Kraft, John

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Registrations
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2014
Publication Date: 5/2/2014
Citation: Porter, L., Grunwald, N.J., Kraft, J.M. 2014. Release of pea germplasm with Fusarium resistance combined with desirable yield and anti-lodging traits. Journal of Plant Registrations. 8:191-194.

Interpretive Summary: Fusarium root rot, caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi is a serious seed and root rot disease affecting pea growing areas of the USA and Europe. The disease may damage peas produced in both dryland and irrigated fields, and has been reported to reduce yield between 30 to 57% in eastern Washington and Canada. Fusarium wilt is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi races 1, 2, and 5. Races 1 and 2 are found throughout pea growing regions in the world; however race 5 has only been reported in Northwestern Washington State. Fusarium wilt is considered to be a major concern in pea production areas and is capable of taking down entire fields. Identifying plants that have genes conferring resistance to these Fusarium pathogens is the most economical and environmentally friendly means to manage these diseases. The present research identified six pea plants that were tolerant to Fusarium root rot and resistant to Fusarium wilt races 1 and 5. Four of the lines were also resistant to race 2. These lines also contain important agronomic traits such as double or triple pods per node and semi-leafless leaf types which promotes uniform seed color and anti-lodging chracteristics desired for high yields and to facilitate harvest. These lines will be used by public and private pea breeders to develop dry, canning and freezer peas with improved disease resistance and yield.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium root rot caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi (Fsp) and Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi (Fop) races 1, 2 and 5, negatively impact the pea industry worldwide. Limited pea germplasm with agronomically acceptable characteristics combined with resistance to these diseases are available. This research identified germplasm with traits augmenting yield, harvestability, tolerance to Fsp and resistance to Fop. Six F13 pea (Pisum sativum L.) breeding lines 00-5001 (Reg. No. __, PI __), 00-5003 (Reg. No. __, PI __), 00-5004 (Reg. No. __, PI __), 00-5005 (Reg. No. __, PI __), 00-5006 (Reg. No. __, PI __), and 00-5007 (Reg. No. __, PI __), were developed by the USDA-ARS, Prosser, WA via single-seed descent combining tolerance to Fsp (all lines) and resistance to Fop race 1 (all lines), race 2 (four lines) and race 5 (all lines), with agronomic traits such as double or triple pods per node and semi-leafless leaf-types (four lines) which promotes uniform seed color and anti-lodging characteristics. These lines reduced the mean disease severity ratings for Fusarium in field trials by 50.5-58.4% compared to the susceptible cultivar ‘Bolero’ across six years of field evaluations. These lines also yielded significantly more peas than Bolero in field trials in 2008-2009. Greenhouse trials confirmed resistances to Fop races 2 and 5 of specific lines. These lines will serve the dry, canning and freezer pea industries to improve resistance to Fusarium pathogens.