Sustainability on the farm: breeding for resistance and management of major canola diseases in Canada contributing towards an IPM approach
Aria Dolatabadian, Justine Cornelsen, Shuanglong Huang, Zhongwei Zou, W. G. Dilantha Fernando
Abstract
Genetic diversity is vital for the survival of any population. If humans were all the same, a single strain of a nasty flu virus, like COVID-19, could wipe us all out! In plants, genetic diversity plays a similar role. The variation in the type and number of resistance gene(s) between individuals can cause the difference between surviving a disease or not. Studies on genetic diversity will lead to the identification of novel disease-resistance genes. Canola (Brassica napus L.) is an economically and nutritionally important oilseed worldwide. Several serious diseases, including blackleg, clubroot, sclerotinia stem rot, and verticillium stripe, threaten canola production in Canada and worldwide. Traditional methods are not enough for effective control of these diseases. Therefore, the ideal approach is to optimize and utilize the resistance genes found in different B. napus cultivars. With the advent of next-generation sequencing and the development of genomics and molecular genetics techniques, it is now possible to rapidly identify and apply resistance genes. This paper reviews current information about disease-resistance genes identified in B. napus cultivars, mapping and cloning, their importance, role and function, and their association with plant disease resistance and application in resistance breeding. The feasibility of using current resistance sources in Canadian cultivars for developing new disease-resistant cultivars is also discussed. Sustainability of a farm and an agricultural system could be maintained by breeding for disease resistance, including the resistant varieties and incorporating other integrated pest management strategies along with it.