Improving canola resistance against blackleg disease through incorporation of novel resistance genes source from B. napus, B. rapa, and B. oleracea

Project Summary

Objective:

To identify new major resistance genes for blackleg disease through the phenotypic screening of 500 accessions of Brassica napus, B. rapa and B. oleracea with a differential set of Leptosphaeria maculans isolates.

Overview:

An intensive screening of over 1,100 accessions (plant materials collected from a particular area) of B. napus and B. rapa was conducted to search for novel resistance (R) genes against blackleg. Throughout this, a methodology for accurate and rigorous screening of Brassica species for blackleg resistance was created. As well, two B. napus lines with novel R genes were identified and the preliminary mapping conducted on one of these lines supports the presence of a novel broad spectrum R gene.

Note: This study was one of many making up the ‘Canola Disease Management Tools for the Prairies – Blackleg and Sclerotinia’ project that was led by SaskCanola in partnership with industry and funded under the Agri-Science Project (ASP) within the Growing Forward 2 Program.