Resistance in lentil (Lens culinaris) genetic resources to the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum)

Authors: DAS, SHIMUL - Washington State University; Porter, Lyndon; MA, YU - Washington State University; Coyne, Clarice - Clare; CHAVES-CORDOBA, BERNARDO - Washington State University; NAIDU, RAYAPATI - Washington State University

Submitted to: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2022
Publication Date: 7/4/2022
Citation: Das, S., Porter, L.D., Ma, Y., Coyne, C.J., Chaves-Cordoba, B., Naidu, R.A. 2022. Resistance in lentil (Lens culinaris) genetic resources to the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 170(8):755-769. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13202.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13202

Interpretive Summary: The pea aphid (PA) can cause complete yield loss in lentil if not managed properly. Determining lentil lines with resistance to PA is important for management in production areas worldwide. The objectives of this research were to identify lines and genes associated with resistance to PA found in 188 lentil lines contained in the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station in Pullman, WA. Lentil lines were characterized based on the average number of aphids that developed on the plants 10 days after a single aphid was placed on a plant. Twenty lines were considered resistant, 99 moderately resistant, 51 moderately susceptible and 18 susceptible. Lentil line PI 329157 LSP, originating from Iran, demonstrated the best resistance. Fifteen genes were identified that were associated with resistance to PA. The resistant lines identified will be used in lentil breeding programs to develop PA-resistant lentils for commercial production and the genes identified will be used as genetic markers to rapidly select resistant breeding material. Developing resistance in lentil to PA is an environmentally friendly approach that can reduce insecticide applications and minimize the spread of aphids that transmit lentil-damaging while lowering production costs and risks for growers and consumers.

Technical Abstract: The pea aphid (PA), Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae), can cause complete yield loss in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) if not managed properly. Determining lentil genetic resources with resistance to PA is important for integrated pest management in production areas worldwide. The objectives of this research were to identify genetic resources and genes associated with resistance to PA found in the 188 accessions of USDA Lentil Single Plant Core Collection. A cluster analysis associated with the mean number of adults, nymphs and total aphids that developed on lentil lines 10 days after feeding identified four significantly different clusters associated with aphid resistance (aphids/plant): 20 lines were considered resistant, 99 moderately resistant, 51 moderately susceptible and 18 susceptible. PI 329157 LSP, originating from Iran, demonstrated the best resistance when assessing antibiosis properties. The genotyping by sequencing-based SNPs were used for genome-wide association mapping to locate genes or quantitative trait loci associated with PA resistance traits in which six, four and three SNPs were associated with resistance to adult, nymph and total number of PA that developed on lentil lines, respectively. Fifteen candidate genes were identified in response to PA resistance. The results can effectively be used in molecular lentil breeding programs to target specific genomic regions associated with PA resistance and in traditional breeding using highly PA-resistant genotypes identified as parents to develop durable resistant lentil cultivars.