Location: Sunflower Improvement Research
Project Number: 3060-21220-034-026-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2022
End Date: Dec 31, 2024
Objective:
1. Develop a core AmpSeq array of genetic markers that are reliable, reproducible, and polymorphic across Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates that putatively play a role in pathogenicity and the emergence of fungicide resistance; 2. Characterize the genetic variability of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates from multiple hosts/regions and identify genetic variability associated with pathogenicity; and 3. Characterize the genetic variability of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates from multiple hosts/regions and identify genetic variability associated with fungicide resistance.
Approach:
The first objective will be accomplished by continuing previous work in which we developed a multi-locus amplicon sequencing array, AmpSeq, to gather sequence data on 167 regions of interest within the S. sclerotiorum genome (microsatellite loci, SNPs, candidate effectors, pathogenicity-related genes, and fungicide resistance loci). An analysis of our preliminary AmpSeq data will be used to identify markers that are reliable, easily sequenced across many different isolates, and are informative, having genetic variability between isolates. From this, we will establish a core set of markers from which we can obtain additional AmpSeq data. For Objective 2, we will use the AmpSeq markers developed in Objective 1 to generate population-level data on approximately 300 S. sclerotiorum isolates that cover the range of aggressivity. For Objective 3, we will use the AmpSeq markers to focus on isolates (approximately 300) that have been characterized in their sensitivity to fungicides and will cover the full range of sensitivities.
