Location: Sunflower Improvement Research
Project Number: 3060-21220-034-013-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2021
End Date: Dec 31, 2025
Objective:
1. To conduct backcrossing for introgression and pyramiding of Sclerotinia resistance gene(s) into elite canola breeding lines; and 2. To develop diversified canola breeding lines with enhanced Sclerotinia stem rot disease tolerance.
Approach:
Two strategies will be taken to introgress and pyramid sclerotinia stem rot resistance gene(s) into advanced breeding lines to release as cultivar/germplasm in the future. For Objective 1, we have identified NDC-E16198 as the best canola breeding line in NDSU canola breeding program to use as one parent line and three germplasm accessions (g151, g127, g339) have been identified with enhanced tolerance to the Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) disease. We will use the four parental line/accessions to make a four-way cross followed by backcross to NDC-E16198. SSR disease screening will be conducted in each generation to introgress and pyramid SSR resistance gene(s). We are expecting to pyramid the resistance genes and to develop high seed yield canola breeding lines with enhanced resistance/ tolerance to the disease. For Objective 2, we will develop a Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population using three SSR tolerant germplasm accessions (g151, g127, g339) and five diversified canola cultivars. The diversified cultivars have been selected based on winter type growth habit with clubroot resistance genes (Mendel), NDSU spring type with good agronomy (NDOLA-01), European spring type with good agronomy (France1), high oil spring type (Polo Canada), and Canadian spring type with highly embryogenic characteristics (Topas). We will make an eight-way cross among the parents. Once the final F1[(P1xP2)/(P3xP4)x(P5xP6)/(P7xP8)] is done, single seed descent method will be applied to generate recombinant inbred lines (RILs). In the 3rd year, we will be able to generate a RIL population of F6 generation (96.8% homozygosity). The RIL population will be evaluated for canola quality (low erucic acid and low glucosinolate content). Field testing for seed yield and other agronomic traits and greenhouse evaluation for disease tolerance will be conducted in the 3rd year and 4th year. Finally, the best lines with enhanced disease tolerance and better agronomy will be released as cultivar or germplasm in the North Central Region of the United States.
