GREENHOUSE TESTING OF TRANSGENIC PEANUT FOR RESISTANCE TO SCLEROTINIA MINOR JAGGER

Authors: Chamberlin, Kelly; Melouk, Hassan

Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2001
Publication Date: 3/1/2002
Citation: Chenault, K.D., Melouk, H.A. 2002. Greenhouse testing of transgenic peanut for resistance to Sclerotinia minor jagger [abstract]. American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts. 33:27.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fungal diseases of peanut, such as Sclerotinia blight caused by Sclerotinia minor, are responsible for increased production costs and yield losses of up to 50% for peanut producers in the United States. Few cultivars with disease resistance, such as SW Runner, have been developed through traditional breeding practices. There is an urgent need for developing peanut cultivars that are resistant to the broad spectrum of fungal pathogens that pose a recurring threat to peanut health. Transgenic peanut plant lines containing anti-fungal genes have been produced from somatic embryos of the susceptible cultivar Okrun, and have been tested under greenhouse conditions for resistance to S. minor by inoculation with a mycelial plug. Disease symptoms, such as lesion length, vascular collapse, and plant vigor, were recorded for transgenic peanut, non- transgenic Okrun, and SW Runner plants. In general, transgenic peanut lines developed less severe symptoms than non-transgenic Okrun and slightly more severe symptoms than SW Runner. However, several transgenic lines did display increased plant vigor and ability to recover from disease when compared to SW Runner plants.