Diversification and combination of Aphanomyces Resistance QTLs in protein peas (DORA)

• 3,5 yeas program (2019-2022)
• 330k€ 
• Coordinators:  Jean-François Herbommez (KWS-Momont)/Marie-Laure Pilet-Nayel
• Contact : Marie-Laure.Pilet-Nayel@inrae.fr

Context

The development of the pea crop in France is limited by yield instability, partly due to Aphanomyces root rot, caused by the pathogen Aphanomyces euteiches. No method is available to date to control the disease, but breeding of resistant varieties is underway and will be a major lever for managing the disease. For the past 15 years, genetic research has identified sources of partial resistance to A. euteiches in peas and seven main regions of the genome, or QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci), controlling resistance in several accessions of peas. Nevertheless, the best strategies for combining these QTLs and the mining of genetic variability to discover new potential QTLs in pea still have to be investigated, in order to sustainably increase resistance levels in future varieties.

Objectives

DORA aims to generate knowledge and pea genetic material to identify strategies for diversifying and combining resistance QTL in breeding to increase levels of partial resistance. The work developed in the project consists of (i) identifying new potential QTLs in advanced backcross populations resulting from crosses involving new sources of resistance, (ii) creating new combinations combining resistance QTLs, selected in progenies of intercrosses of Near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying QTL previously identified, (iii) evaluating the effect of new QTL combinations on key stages of the pathogen life cycle and on different plant traits (intrinsic resistance, tolerance, root architecture) in order to limit the disease severity. New perspectives are being explored to identify novel genomic-assisted breeding schemes, allowing to combine multiple QTLs with varying effects in order to increase resistance levels in future pea varieties.

Partners

DORA brings together 8 partners, including public partners (UMR IGEPP, INRAE Bretagne-Normandie ; UMR Agroécologie, INRAE Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) and six private partners (KWS-Momont; Agri-Obtentions; Limagrain; RAGT2n; Unisigma; Terres Inovia).