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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Peanut and Small Grains Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #426411
Research Project: High Oleic Peanut Cultivars and Germplasm with Improved Disease Resistance for the Southwestern United States

Location: Peanut and Small Grains Research Unit

Title: Validation of two QTL associated with Sclerotinia blight resistance in peanut

Author
item Chamberlin, Kelly
item Bennett, Rebecca
item CLEVENGER, JOSH - Hudsonalpha Institute For Biotechnology
item KORANI, WALID - Hudsonalpha Institute For Biotechnology

Submitted to: Peanut Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/22/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Sclerotinia blight is a fungal disease that threatens peanut production in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Virginia, and North Carolina. Severe outbreaks of this disease can lead to 50% yield loss and control by application of fungicides is expensive. The objective of this project was to genetically map a region of the peanut genome responsible for resistance to Sclerotinia blight. Mapping and validation populations were characterized by genotyping and phenotyping. Correlation of the resulting data identified a genomic locus on chromosome 15 consistent with resistance. These results will enable breeders to screen lines for the presence of this locus, accelerating the development of resistant peanut cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Sclerotinia blight, caused by Sclerotinia minor Jagger, is a fungal disease of peanut that is widespread throughout the cooler peanut-growing regions of the U.S. and can cause yield losses up to 50%, threatening sustainable peanut production. Few cultivars with acceptable resistance have been developed due to a limited understanding of the inheritance of the trait. In this study, correlation of genotypic data collected from a RIL mapping population (Tamrun OL02 x PI 497429), and phenotypic data collected between 2017 and 2020 revealed two QTL potentially associated with Sclerotinia blight resistance. Subsequently, members from a validation RIL population (Okrun X PI 497429) were selected based on genotype and phenotyped in 2023 for resistance under heavy disease pressure. Correlation of phenotypic and genotypic data validated the two QTL associated with resistance to Sclerotinia blight on chromosomes 6 and 15. These results will be used to develop and deploy markers for screening breeding populations and germplasm collections, as well as aid in the selection of advanced breeding lines for development of Sclerotinia-resistant cultivars.