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Poster

Session: Session 2 Presenting Authors at Posters (Odds)

P-063 - Molecular mechanisms of quantitative resistance to Aphanomyces root rot in pea

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
13:30 - 15:15  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Crop resistance genetics and genomics

Pea (Pisum sativum) is an important crop in Europe for the agro-ecological and food transitions. Aphanomyces root rot (ARR), caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces euteiches, has been a major threat to pea production for over 20 years. Quantitative resistance is a key lever for the pea protection against ARR. Past extensive genetic studies identified genetic regions associated with ARR resistance, including a major-effect Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL), Ae-Ps7.6, and pea near-isogenic lines (NILs) at the QTL were created. Our study aimed to identify the molecular pathways associated with the QTL-conferred ARR resistance that are so far unknown. We conducted QTL fine mapping and transcriptomic studies using pea NILs at the QTL. RNA sequencing identified differentially expressed genes in response to infection by A. euteiches in susceptible and partially resistant NILs. Genes belonging to common molecular pathways between both groups of NILs were significantly enriched. No significant variation in gene expression in the fine-mapped QTL was observed between partially resistant and susceptible NILs. Structural variants were identified in genes within the fine-mapped QTL as well as near the interval in a cluster of NB-LRR-encoding genes that were constitutively upregulated in partially resistant lines. This study provides better insights into the transcriptomic immune response of pea to A. euteiches and candidate genes at QTL-conferred ARR resistance for further functional validation.