Oilseed rape (B. napus) resistance against Verticillium longisporum under drought and high temperature stress conditions
The soil-borne host specific fungal pathogen Verticillium longisporum is considered an economically important pathogen in oilseed rape (Zeise and von Tiedemann, 2002). This pathogen causes foliar chlorosis, reduced shoot & root growth, and premature senescence and ripening which ultimately leads to significant yield losses (Dunker et al., 2008). The type of interior colonization of the plant vascular system and the highly durable microsclerotia produced by this pathogen have hampered chemical control. Thus, the sole potential means of control is the use of plant resistance (Eynck, 2008; Berg et al., 1999). Histological and biochemical studies showed that significant build-up of vascular occlusions, cell wall-bound phenolics & lignin are among the major resistance mechanisms responsible for oilseed rape resistance against V. longisporum (Eynck et al., 2009). However, it is not known whether these changes (particularly the vascular occlusions) have further secondary negative effects on plant water relations particularly under drought and temperature stress conditions.
This joint project involves three cooperating partners:
- Göttingen University Division of Plant Pathology and Crop Protection,
- University of Giessen, Department of Plant Breeding and
- Eight plant breeding companies through their association in the GFP (Association for the Promotion of Private Plant Breeding in Germany).
The project in general aimed at investigating winter oilseed rape resistance against V. longisporum under drought and temperature stress conditions. The whole project work is broadly divided into two parts focusing on breeding and phytopathology. The latter part of the project, mainly carried out at Göttingen University, includes experiments exploring the interaction of V. longisporum infection with stress induced through drought and high temperature on winter oilseed rape. Besides this, we evaluate B. napus accessions for resistance against V. longisporum under greenhouse and field conditions on fields near Göttingen (North central Germany), Fehmarn, (North Germany) and Svalöv (South Sweden).
Investigator: Daniel Lopisso, PhD Student
Supervisor: Prof. Andreas von Tiedemann
References:
- Berg G., Frankowski J. and Bahl H. 1999. Biocontrol of Verticillium Wilt in Oilseed Rape by Chitinolytic Serratia Plymuthica. 10th international rapeseed congress Canberra, Australia.
- Dunker S., Keunecke H., Steinbach P. and A. von Tiedemann. 2008. Impact of Verticillium longisporum on Yield and Morphology of Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) in Relation to Systemic Spread in the Plant. Journal of Phytopathology. 156: 698-707.
- Eynck C. 2008. Identification of resistance sources and characterization of resistance factors in Brassica species to Verticillium longisporum.Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Fakultät für Agrarwissenschaften der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany.
- Eynck, C., B. Koopmann, G. Grunewaldt-Stoecker, P. Karlovsky, A. v. Tiedemann (2007). Differential interactions of Verticillium longisporum and V. dahliae with Brassica napus detected with molecular and histological techniques. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 118:259-272.
- Zeise, K. & A.v. Tiedemann (2002). Host specialization among vegetative compatibility groups of Verticillium dahliae in relation to V. longisporum. J. Phytopathology, 150, 112-119.