Recipient Organization
WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 1000
INSTITUTE,WV 25112
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This proposal outlines a plan to tackle anthracnose, a harmful fungal disease affecting key crops like tomatoes and peppers. Anthracnose can cause significant damage to these crops, leading to major losses for farmers and the agriculture industry. To combat this, the proposal suggests creating genetic tools and resources aimed at developing crop varieties resistant to the disease. The strategy involves a detailed study of the crops' genetic response to the fungus by examining the RNA from infected fruit tissues. By comparing these findings with healthy controls, the researchers hope to pinpoint specific genes and genetic regions (Quantitative Trait Loci or QTLs) that play a role in resistance to anthracnose. The plan includes using cutting-edge DNA techniques to identify these critical genes across different varieties of Capsicum (the pepper plant family) and then testing these plants for disease resistance. A key part of the proposal is the development of new DNA-based tests (PACE assays) that can quickly identify plants with the desired resistant traits. These tests will help in selecting the best candidates for breeding anthracnose-resistant tomatoes and peppers. Beyond the scientific goals, the project emphasizes collaboration with farmers, industry experts, and government researchers to ensure the results are practical and beneficial for agricultural production. It also aims to contribute to education and workforce development in the field of plant breeding and genetics. Overall, the proposal offers a comprehensive approach to developing stronger, disease-resistant crops, which could have a lasting positive impact on agriculture and food security.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The main goal of this project is to develop pre-breeding tomato and pepper lines resistant to anthracnose fungal infection. We will explore and characterize our tomato RIL population and Capsicum germplasm pools to identify cultivars with varying degrees of resistance or susceptibility. This proposal will utilize genomic colinearity from well-studied species, like the tomato and its distant relative pepper, for the identification of PCR-based high-throughput assays targeting common QTLs between the two species, promising for allele mining in anthracnose-resistant loci. To complement the comparative genomic approach, we propose the development of PCR Allele Competitive Extension (PACE) assays targeting resistant Quantitative Trait Nucleotides (QTNs) within the core germplasm repositories of both tomato and pepper to identify and characterize underlying candidate genes associated with anthracnose resistance/susceptibility in tomato and pepper. This proposal not only enables the integration of resistances to various strains of Colletotrichum spp. but also revolutionizes tomato and pepper breeding for enhanced food security and sustainability. Additionally, it will facilitate the development of resistant varieties and pre-breeding lines for on-farm trials and participatory selection strategies, ultimately leading to improved varieties. These activities will be supported by intensive education and outreach efforts to introduce existing varieties and those bred using genomic tools and other consumer-assisted approaches to tomato and pepper farming communities in the United States.The current proposal will address the need to integrate modern technologies that can create a set of common tools for marker-assisted breeding with the specific objectives mentioned below.Comparative transcriptomics of pathogen-challenged tissues between pepper and tomato to identify orthologous anthracnose resistance genes.Develop PACE markers from orthologous loci in tomato and pepper and assay them in core Capsicum chinense collection and Tomato RILs.Evaluation of tomato and pepper lines as potential pre-breeding lines for anthracnose.
Project Methods
This research project adopts a thorough and innovative approach to combat anthracnose, a significant fungal disease affecting tomatoes and peppers, through genetic resistance. The project is structured around three pivotal objectives, each designed to build upon the last, creating a comprehensive strategy to identify, evaluate, and deploy anthracnose-resistant cultivars.Objective 1 embarks on a deep dive into the genetic responses of tomato and pepper fruits when challenged with the anthracnose pathogen, Colletotrichum. By infecting green and mature fruits of specific tomato lines and Capsicum chinense accessions with a high concentration of fungal spores, the project captures the dynamic host-pathogen interactions at the RNA level. The subsequent RNA extraction, library construction, and high-throughput sequencing efforts aim to paint a detailed picture of the genetic expression changes induced by infection. Advanced bioinformatics tools will be employed to sift through the vast data, identifying genes whose expression levels significantly differ between infected and control samples. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are then mapped onto known biological pathways, highlighting potential resistance mechanisms. By comparing these genetic responses across species, the project seeks to uncover orthologous genes that confer resistance, leveraging the evolutionary conservation of defense mechanisms across the Solanaceae family.Objective 2 moves the project from gene identification to practical application, focusing on the development of precise diagnostic tools - PACE markers - for anthracnose resistance. By analyzing the sequence variations (SNPs) within the identified resistance genes, the project designs allele-specific primers that can distinguish between resistant and susceptible genetic variants. These PACE markers represent a significant advancement in breeding, offering a rapid and accurate method to screen large collections of tomato and Capsicum for resistant individuals. This screening is not just a theoretical exercise; it has direct implications for breeding programs, enabling the selection of candidates with the genetic foundation for resistance to be further developed into robust cultivars.Objective 3 is where potential meets practice, as the lines identified through PACE assays are subjected to rigorous field testing. This phase evaluates the lines under agricultural conditions, not only for their resistance to anthracnose but also for their performance across a range of horticultural traits. This dual focus ensures that the selected lines are not just disease-resistant but also commercially viable, addressing the multifaceted needs of modern agriculture. By inoculating these plants with the anthracnose pathogen and meticulously scoring disease progression alongside agronomic traits, the project identifies the most promising candidates for future breeding efforts.Collectively, these objectives encapsulate a holistic approach to plant breeding, integrating cutting-edge genomic analysis with traditional field evaluation. The project's outcomes aim to significantly advance our understanding of anthracnose resistance in tomatoes and peppers, leading to the development of cultivars that can sustainably support global food systems. This research not only addresses a critical plant health issue but also sets a precedent for how modern genomics can be harnessed to solve complex agricultural challenges, enhancing both food security and the resilience of cropping systems against plant diseases.