Resistance in pea (Pisum sativum) genetic resources to the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

Authors: RAHMAN, MOHAMMAD - Washington State University; Porter, Lyndon; MA, YU - Washington State University; Coyne, Clarice - Clare; ZHENG, PING - Washington State University; CHAVES-CORDOBA, BERNARDO - Auburn University; NAIDU, RAYAPATI - Washington State University

Submitted to: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2022
Publication Date: 3/20/2023
Citation: Rahman, M.M., Porter, L.D., Ma, Y., Coyne, C.J., Zheng, P., Chaves-Cordoba, B., Naidu, R.A. 2023. Resistance in pea (Pisum sativum) genetic resources to the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 171(6):435-448. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13296.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13296

Interpretive Summary: The pea aphid (PA) can cause significant yield loss in pea if not managed properly. Determining pea lines with resistance to PA is important for management in production areas worldwide and limiting the spread of viruses associated with the aphids. The objectives of this research were to identify lines and genes associated with resistance to PA found in 301 pea lines contained in the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station in Pullman, WA. Pea lines were categorized based on the average number of aphids that developed on the plants 10 days after a single aphid was placed on a plant and by how the lines influenced feeding behavior. Forty-eight lines were classified as being the most resistant to aphids, and five of these lines limited aphid reproduction to less than five aphids over the 10-day evaluation period. The pea cultivar 'Lifter' was considered to be the most aphid-resistant line and should be used in breeding efforts to improve aphid resistance. Seventeen genes were identified that are associated with resistance to PA. The resistant lines identified will be used in pea breeding programs to develop PA-resistant peas for commercial production and genes identified will be developed as genetic markers to rapidly select resistant breeding material. Developing resistance in pea to PA is part of an integrated pest management approach that can potentially reduce insecticide applications, minimize the spread of aphids and viruses and lower production costs and risks for growers and consumers.

Technical Abstract: The pea aphid (PA), Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae), can cause significant damage to dry and green peas (Pisum sativum L.). Identifying pea genetic resources with resistance to PA is important to advance control measures. The purpose of the present research was to identify genetic resources and genes associated with resistance to PA in the USDA Pisum sativum collection located in Pullman, WA, consisting of 301 pea genotypes collected worldwide. Eight commercial pea cultivars were also evaluated in this study. A cluster analysis associated with the mean number of adults, nymphs and total aphids that developed on pea lines 10 days after releasing a single adult aphid per plant identified six clusters associated with aphid resistance. Cluster 2 consisting of 48 lines had the lowest fecundity of all the clusters with mean adults, nymphs, and total aphids of 2.1, 7.3 and 9.4 produced, respectively. The most pea-aphid-resistant line based on the Primary and Selective Antibiosis Tests was ‘Lifter’. Lifter is a white-flowered green dry pea cultivar that can be used to advance pea aphid resistance in food-type peas. Genotyping by sequencing based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used in genome-wide association mapping to locate genes or quantitative trait loci linked to PA resistance in which three, nine and six SNPs were associated with resistance to adult, nymph and total number of PA that developed on pea lines, respectively. Seventeen candidate genes were identified in response to PA resistance in pea. The results can effectively be used in molecular pea breeding programs to target specific genomic regions associated with PA resistance and in traditional breeding using highly PA-resistant genotypes as parents.