Genetics and genomics of Brassica-Verticillium interaction

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This project is in progress, but is focused on identifying verticillium-resistant B. napus (canola) lines and to develop pathogen diagnostic tools.

Project Summary

Purpose

Verticillium stripe cause by the fungus Verticillim longisporum (Vl) is a challenging disease to control due to the long-term persistence (up to 14 years) of the pathogen spores (microsclerotia) in soil. Being a soil-borne disease, the best control measures are deployment of verticillium resistant cultivars and monitoring the pathogen spread using V. longisporum specific molecular markers.

Objectives

  • Identifying resistance against verticillium in Brassica germplasm.
  • Understanding genome organization of Canadian isolates of the V. longisporum pathogen.
  • Understanding the biology of V. longisporum virulence and identifying virulence factors in the V. longisporum genome that are vital to colonization of the host.
  • Gaining insight into the molecular interaction between V. longisporum and B. napus.

Progress                                  

A B. napus line with the highest quantitative resistance against Vl was crossed with a B. napus susceptible line. A doubled-haploid (DH) mapping population was developed to identify the quantitative resistance genetic location. Phenotyping and genotyping of the progenies of this population had to be postponed due to COVID-19. Work on this project is expected to resume upon gradual re-opening of the research labs at AAFC.