Khorramdelazad Mahsa
Griffith University, Australia.
Title: Characterisation of R-QTL for Ascochyta lentis resistance in lentil and identification of candidate defence-transcripts
Biography
Biography: Khorramdelazad Mahsa
Abstract
Lentil (Lens culinaris) is a valuable staple food legume with an annual global production of ~5MT which is ubiquitously impacted by the disease ascochyta blight, caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen, Ascochyta lentis. The most effective and environmentally friendly method to control AB is use of resistant genotypes together with scheduled chemical applications. In order to breed sustainable resistance, knowledge on the key components underpinning the resistance trait is required. Accordingly, a large number of A. lentis defence-related transcripts were identified by RNA-sequencing in the highly resistant genotype ILL7537, which is routinely used in the Australian resistance breeding program [1]. Subsequently, genome-by-sequencing (GBS) method was used to identify SNP markers and produce a comprehensive linkage map comprising of 1161 markers across 120 F5 RIL (ILL7537 x ILL6002 cross). Disease resistance in the RIL population was assessed using four quantitative traits and three major quantitative trait loci governing the ILL7537 resistance were identified (R-QTL). Co-location of differentially expressed defence-related transcripts with SNPs within the identified R-QTL regions revealed a set of putative candidate resistance genes and associated transcription factors, for further investigation as the key drivers of the resistance trait.