Genomic investigation of western Canadian Aphanomyces isolates from pea and lentil

In order to determine the best approaches to monitoring and addressing Aphanomyces Rot Root (ARR) in Western Canada it is necessary to be able to properly assess the diversity, host specificity, and potential race structures of Aphanomyces euteiches populations. Without this basic knowledge it is very difficult to design detailed genetic studies into the nature of ARR infestation in Western Canada or to develop targeted resistance breeding efforts or robust management practices for producers.

The central question this project wants to address is: Do the strains of A. euteiches infecting pea and lentil crops in Western Canada represent different races of the pathogen? To address this question, we are using a genomics-based approach to define the strains of A. euteiches infecting each host crop. We are using advanced DNA sequencing technologies to produce high-quality reference genomes for several A. euteiches isolates collected from infected pea and lentil crops. This will allow us to define the genetic differences between the pathogen populations affecting the two crops, and to develop genetic screening methods to survey many more isolates collected from across Western Canada. By doing so we hope to provide an objective and definitive answer to the central question posed by the project, allowing us to dissect the role that genetic diversity within A. euteiches populations plays in ARR development in both crops, and opening the door for detailed pathotyping and genetic interaction studies as well as race- specific in-field surveillance.