2019 journal article

Resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi in American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Backcross Populations that Descended from Two Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) Sources of Resistance

PLANT DISEASE, 103(7), 1631–1641.

co-author countries: United States of America πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
author keywords: backcross breeding; chestnut blight; Cryphonectria parasitica; heritability; host resistance; ink disease; Phytophthora root rot
MeSH headings : Ascomycota; Breeding; China; Disease Resistance / genetics; Fagaceae / microbiology; Fagaceae / parasitology; Phytophthora / physiology; Seedlings; Trees / microbiology; Trees / parasitology; United States
Source: Web Of Science
Added: July 1, 2019

Restoration of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) depends on combining resistance to both the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) and Phytophthora cinnamomi, which causes Phytophthora root rot, in a diverse population of C. dentata. Over a 14-year period (2004 to 2017), survival and root health of American chestnut backcross seedlings after inoculation with P. cinnamomi were compared among 28 BC 3 , 66 BC 4 , and 389 BC 3 F 3 families that descended from two BC 1 trees (Clapper and Graves) with different Chinese chestnut grandparents. The 5% most resistant Graves BC 3 F 3 families survived P. cinnamomi infection at rates of 75 to 100% but had mean root health scores that were intermediate between resistant Chinese chestnut and susceptible American chestnut families. Within Graves BC 3 F 3 families, seedling survival was greater than survival of Graves BC 3 and BC 4 families and was not genetically correlated with chestnut blight canker severity. Only low to intermediate resistance to P. cinnamomi was detected among backcross descendants from the Clapper tree. Results suggest that major-effect resistance alleles were inherited by descendants from the Graves tree, that intercrossing backcross trees enhances progeny resistance to P. cinnamomi, and that alleles for resistance to P. cinnamomi and C. parasitica are not linked. To combine resistance to both C. parasitica and P. cinnamomi, a diverse Graves backcross population will be screened for resistance to P. cinnamomi, survivors bred with trees selected for resistance to C. parasitica, and progeny selected for resistance to both pathogens will be intercrossed.