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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #384142
Research Project: Genetics and Breeding of Lettuce, Spinach, Melon, and Related Species to Improve Production and Consumer-related Traits

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Resistance to lettuce drop (Sclerotinia spp.): cell wall composition analysis to determine biological basis

Author
item MAMO, BULLO ERENA - University Of California
item FOSTER, CLIFTON - Michigan State University
item ADHIKARI, NEIL - California Department Of Public Health
item Simko, Ivan

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2021
Publication Date: 8/6/2021
Citation: Mamo, B., Foster, C.E., Adhikari, N., Simko, I. 2021. Resistance to lettuce drop (Sclerotinia spp.): cell wall composition analysis to determine biological basis. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, August 2-6, 2021 (virtual).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sclerotinia spp. are one of the most generalist classes of fungal pathogens that release oxalic acid and cell wall degrading enzymes and initiate tissue maceration. The pathogens infect >700 plants worldwide, including lettuce, and are capable of transitioning from a biotrophic to a necrotrophic lifestyle. Our understanding of host resistance to Sclerotinia spp. is limited. We recently identified soft basal stem as a plausible susceptibility factor to Sclerotinia spp. in lettuce. Yet, the biological basis of stem development and its relationship with resistance to infection by Sclerotinia spp. is not well understood. Greenhouse experiments on six lettuce genotypes with varied growth habits and resistance levels provided evidence of host cell wall chemical components associated with resistance to lettuce drop. Preliminary analysis indicated significant variations among lettuce accessions and implicated cell wall polymers recalcitrant to degradation by lignocellulolytic enzymes to play a role in lettuce drop resistance.