Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research
Project Number: 2038-21530-003-030-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2026
End Date: Mar 31, 2030
Objective:
Objective 1. Understand the range of adaptation of lettuce breeding lines improved for resistance to bacterial leaf spot.
Objective 2. Decipher shelf-life of lettuce lines improved for bacterial leaf spot across different production systems.
Objective 3. Determine if the resistance to bacterial leaf spot conferred by the resistant donor also provides protection to other pathogens causing diseases in lettuce.
Objective 4. Release and promote the use of a cultivar improved against bacterial leaf spot.
Approach:
Objective 1: To understand the range of adaptation of lettuce breeding lines improved for resistance to bacterial leaf spot, several hundred lines will be screened to narrow down the number that would become candidates for final releases. Then a selection of these lines will be planted in three of the biggest lettuce-producing states, Arizona, California, and Florida, to understand their environmental adaptation to these locations. In addition, these lines will be planted in hydroponics and sandy soils as the production of lettuce is increasing in these settings/soils, especially in the sub-tropics of Florida.
Objective 2: To decipher shelf-life of lettuce lines improved for bacterial leaf spot across different production systems, an accelerated shelf-life testing method will be used to understand the durability of the chosen breeding lines improved for bacterial leaf spot on the markets.
Objective 3: To determine if the resistance to bacterial leaf spot conferred by the resistant donor also provides protection to other pathogens causing diseases in lettuce, it will be determined how resistant these lines are against multiple diseases including Cercospora leaf spot.
Objective 4: To release and promote the use of a cultivar improved against bacterial leaf spot. Once a potential cultivar(s) is chosen, we will increase seed that will be later planted in bigger field settings to eliminate off types and “clean” the newer cultivars prior to release. We will also organize field days or plant these potential releases at growers’ fields to demonstrate the value of these releases.