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Field Reaction to Sclerotinia Blight among Transgenic Peanut Lines Containing Antifungal Genes

Author:
K. D. Chenault, H. A. Melouk, M. E. Payton
Source:
Crop science 2005 v.45 no.2 pp. 511-515
ISSN:
0011-183X
Subject:
Arachis hypogaea, peanuts, transgenic plants, gene expression, transgenes, chitinase, beta-glucanase, disease resistance, leaf blight, Sclerotinia minor
Abstract:
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is susceptible to many diseases. In the southwestern USA and other regions where peanut is grown, diseases caused by fungi are a major threat to profitable production. Transgenic peanut lines possessing fungal resistance genes offer an alternative to traditional resistance and fungicide application in managing fungal diseases. Thirty-two transgenic peanut lines containing antifungal genes (a rice chitinase and/or an alfalfa glucanase) were evaluated for their reaction to Sclerotinia blight caused by Sclerotinia minor Jagger in small field plots (6.1 by 7.6 m) for 3 yr. Peanut lines were arranged in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Disease incidence was recorded throughout the growing season and data were analyzed for statistical significance. Over the 3-yr period, average disease incidence for the most resistant lines—188, Southwest Runner, 416, 540, and 654—was 0.0, 1.0, 10.0, 14.0, and 16.0%, respectively. The cultivar Okrun was most susceptible with an average disease incidence of 58.0%. All other lines had varying degrees of resistance but averaged at least 15.5% less disease than Okrun over the 3-yr period. Transgenic peanut lines with partial resistance to Sclerotinia blight were identified which may be useful in traditional breeding programs for fungal resistance.
Agid:
3264
Handle:
10113/3264