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Title: FIELD REACTION TO SCLEROTINIA BLIGHT AMONG TRANSGENIC PEANUT LINES CONTAINING ANTIFUNGAL GENES

Author
item Chamberlin, Kelly
item Melouk, Hassan
item PAYTON, MARK - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/18/2004
Publication Date: 4/1/2005
Citation: Chenault, K.D., Melouk, H.A., Payton, M.E. 2005. Field reaction to sclerotinia blight among transgenic peanut lines containing antifungal genes. Crop Science. 45:511-515.

Interpretive Summary: Peanut is susceptible to many diseases. One of the major diseases affecting peanut production in the Southwestern U.S. is Sclerotinia blight, caused by the fungus Sclerotinia minor. Transgenic peanut lines possessing fungal resistance genes offer an alternative to traditional resistance and fungicide application in managing fungal diseases. Transgenic peanut lines containing anti-fungal genes were evaluated for their reaction to Sclerotinia blight in field plots for three years. Over the 3-year period, average disease incidence of the most resistant lines 188, Southwest Runner, 416, 540, and 654 was 0.0, 1.0, 10.0, 14.0, and 16.0%, respectively. The cultivar Okrun was most susceptible with an average disease incidence of 58.0%. All other lines had varying degrees of resistance, but averaged at least 15.5% less disease than Okrun over the three-year period. Transgenic peanut lines with partial resistance to Sclerotinia blight were identified which may be useful in traditional breeding programs for fungal resistance.

Technical Abstract: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is susceptible to many diseases. In the Southwestern U.S. and other regions where peanut is grown, diseases caused by fungi are a major threat to profitable production. Transgenic peanut lines possessing fungal resistance genes offer an alternative to traditional resistance and fungicide application in managing fungal diseases. Transgenic peanut lines containing anti-fungal genes were evaluated for their reaction to Sclerotinia blight caused by Sclerotinia minor in small field plots (6.1 x 7.1 m) for three years. Peanut lines were arranged in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Disease incidence was recorded throughout the growing season and data were analyzed for statistical significance. Over the 3-year period, average disease incidence for the most resistant lines 188, Southwest Runner, 416, 540, and 654 was 0.0, 1.0, 10.0, 14.0, and 16.0%, respectively. The cultivar Okrun was most susceptible with an average disease incidence of 58.0%. All other lines had varying degrees of resistance, but averaged at least 15.5% less disease than Okrun over the three-year period. Transgenic peanut lines with partial resistance to Sclerotinia blight were identified which may be useful in traditional breeding programs for fungal resistance.