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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #362127

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: Lettuce and Spinach Breeding

Author
item Simko, Ivan
item Mou, Beiquan
item McCreight, James - Jim
item Richardson, Kelley

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2019
Publication Date: 3/19/2019
Citation: Simko, I., Mou, B., McCreight, J.D., Richardson, K.L. 2019. Lettuce and Spinach Breeding. California Leafy Greens Research Program Meeting, March 19, 2019, Pismo Beach, CA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Lettuce and spinach production is beset by numerous biotic and abiotic challenges, thus the leafy-vegetable industry of California requires continued development of improved, adapted cultivars to meet new disease and insect problems, changes in the market, and changes in growing procedures. The lettuce and spinach breeding and genetics projects aim to incorporate valuable traits into lettuce (crisphead, romaine, leaf and baby leaf types) and spinach cultivars and breeding lines are adapted to coastal California or low desert production conditions. We also develop information and tools to increase the utility of our germplasm by other public and commercial plant breeders and plant pathologists. This report to the California Leafy Greens Research Program annual meeting provides an update on research funded for the period April 1, 2018 through March 19, 2019 that includes studies of resistance of lettuce to lettuce drop, Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, bacterial leaf spot, corky root, downy mildew, lettuce aphid, leafminer, INSV, and tipburn, shelf-life of salad-cut lettuce, and molecular markers. Spinach research is focused on resistance to leafminer and downy mildew, herbicide tolerance, and cadmium content.