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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416024
Research Project: Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Genetic resistance to novel resistance-breaking strain of pathogenic fusarium wilt in cultivated strawberry

Author
item MORGAN, CAITLYN - University Of California
item BJORNSON, MARTA - University Of California
item DILLA-ERMITA, CHRISTINE JADE - University Of California
item Henry, Peter
item PINCOT, DOMINIQUE - University Of California
item FAMULA, RANDI - University Of California
item VACHEV, MICHAELA - University Of California
item JIMENEZ, NICOLAS - University Of California
item KNAPP, STEVEN - University Of California
item FELDMANN, MICHELL - University Of California

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2024
Publication Date: 7/27/2024
Citation: Morgan, C., Bjornson, M., Dilla-Ermita, C., Henry, P.M., Pincot, D., Famula, R.A., Vachev, M., Jimenez, N., Knapp, S., Feldmann, M. 2024. Genetic resistance to novel resistance-breaking strain of pathogenic fusarium wilt in cultivated strawberry. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. July 27-30, 2024, Memphis, Tennessee.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium Wilt, caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. Sp. fragariae (Fof), presents a significant threat to cultivated strawberry production in California. Complete resistance to Fof race 1 through the Fw1 locus was reported by Pincot et al. (2018). In 2022, Fof race 2 was identified by Dilla-Ermita et al. (2023) in Oxnard, California as a novel strain that overcomes resistance conferred by Fw1. Presently, there are no known control methods for Fof race 2. To identify potential donors of genetic resistance, we phenotyped a diversity panel consisting of heirloom strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) cultivars and material from the University of California, Davis (UCD) Strawberry Breeding Program for disease resistance/disease severity to the new Fof race 2. To uncover and describe the genetic architecture of resistance to the new Fof race 2, we conducted genome-wide association (GWAS) mapping using genotypic data collected on the diversity panel. We calculated the area under the disease progression stairs (AUDPS) to estimate the correlation between AUDPS and the final time point score (FTPS). At the end of the experiment, roughly 90% of the plants in the panel had died, and all of the living plants exhibited symptoms of the pathogen. Despite this, we identified a significant QTL on chromosome 5A, conferring partial resistance to Fof race 2. Our results demonstrate that there is at least partial resistance to Fof race 2 within heirloom cultivars and material from the UCD breeding program, and that it is genetically controlled.