• Peas
• Disease Management
• Root Rots
• University of Saskatchewan

Objective

To complement back-crossing and pathogenicity testing with marker-assisted selection that is feasible owing to the work conducted by US and French scientists, who have identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and developed markers for Aphanomyces root rot (ARR) resistance in pea.

Outcome

An intensive backcrossing program was initiated to move resistance from the two main sources of aphanomyces root rot resistance into two yellow and four green adapted pea varieties. In the course of three years, molecular markers were developed to trace QTLs (quantitative trait locus), a total of 75 crosses were made, more than 9,000 plant tissue or seed samples were screened with the molecular markers in addition to pathogenicity testing of close to 100 lines. The resistance QTLs (quantitative trait locus) of the two main sources of aphanomyces root rot have been combined in the background of the two yellow and four green pea varieties, but require one additional screening with molecular markers and pathogenicity testing before seeds of selected lines of these varieties can be increased for agronomic assessment. That will be followed by entering them into the co-op trials for the variety registration process regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

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