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

Objective

To identify pathotypes of Saskatchewan Aphanomyces euteiches isolates; to identify germplasm with high aphanomyces root rot (ARR) resistance through screening under controlled conditions; to develop a screening technique that integrates ARR resistance screening with rapid generation technology (RGT) for pea and lentil; to develop germplasm with improved ARR resistance in pea and lentil. elop germplasm with improved ARR resistance in pea and lentil.

Outcome

Once protocols were established for growing the pathogen and for disease screening, we were able to initiate experiments to study the virulence of isolates and screen for disease resistance. The population study revealed that the western Canadian community of the pathogen consists primarily of highly virulent isolates, probably explaining the severity of disease symptoms encountered in commercial pea and lentil fields. This study also showed that our field isolates are more virulent than isolates used in USA for the screening of pea and lentil germplasm. As a result, germplasm in lentil identified by United States (US) colleagues as having good partial resistance proved to be susceptible when challenged with Saskatchewan isolates. As a result, we have systematically screened our collection of wild lentil and found good partial resistance in close relatives. In pea we were able to access two major sources of resistance from French and US colleagues and, based on data published by these colleagues, could develop molecular markers to complement traditional disease screening to speed up the transfer of these resistance genes into adapted pea lines. Within three (3) years, through a combination of back-crossing, molecular markers and conventional disease screening we have combined resistance of these two sources into the genetic backgrounds of five pea varieties, while a sixth cross is still underway.

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