Location: Sunflower and Plant Biology Research
Project Number: 3060-21220-031-014-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2016
End Date: Dec 31, 2020
Objective:
1. Develop canola breeding lines with resistance against S. sclerotiorum derived
from DH line NEP63.
2. Characterize the resistance against S. sclerotiorum present in PI 169080,
286418, 436554, 458940, and 633119 and transfer it into elite canola breeding
lines.
Approach:
This proposal builds on results of previous projects supported by the Sclerotinia Initiative. With support of the Initiative, B. napus plant introduction materials Ames 26628, 169080, 286418, 436554, 458940, and 633119 were identified as sources of high levels of resistance to S. sclerotiorum using greenhouse inoculations and field trials. Doubled haploids (DH) lines NEP63 and NEP32 were derived from the former, but the remaining materials have not been utilized until this time. Molecular work detected five significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with resistance in NEP63. These markers are located in chromosomes A01, A03, C01, and C08. In a separate project also funded by the Initiative, the genes involved in the early stages of the interaction between NEP63 and S. sclerotiorum are being studied. The resistance carried by the remaining five plant introductions 169080, 286418, 436554, 458940, and 633119 has not been characterized. To take full advantage of these sources of resistance, the objectives of this project are: 1) transfer the resistance identified in the NEP63 line into elite herbicide-tolerant breeding lines; and 2) characterize the resistance found in 169080, 286418, 436554, 458940, and 633119 and transfer it into elite canola breeding lines. An advanced backcross breeding program with QTL analysis will be used to achieve the first goal. Microspore culture techniques will be employed to develop DH lines from crosses between the remaining materials and the same canola breeding lines and association mapping will be employed to characterize the genetics of their resistance. These objectives contribute towards one of the goals of the Sclerotinia Initiative: the development of cultivars with resistance to this pathogen.
