Inheritance of True Leaf Stage Downy Mildew Resistance in Broccoli

Abstract

Downy mildew, incited by the biotrophic fungal parasite, Peronospora parasitica (Pers. Fr.) Fr., is one of the most destructive diseases of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L., Italica Group) and other related crop species throughout the world. Cultivation of resistant cultivars is the most desirable control method because it provides a practical, long-term, and environmentally benign means of limiting damage from this disease. The commercial hybrid cultivar, Everest, has been shown previously to contain a high level of downy mildew resistance. Doubled-haploid (DH) lines developed from that hybrid were also shown to exhibit a similar, high level of resistance at the three- to four-leaf stage. To determine the mode of inheritance of this true leaf resistance, the resistant DH line was crossed to a susceptible line (derived from `Marathon') to produce an F1 hybrid. Subsequently, F2 and backcross (BC) populations were developed from the hybrid. In addition, a DH population of ≈100 lines was developed from the same F1 used to create the F2 and BC. All populations were evaluated for response to artificial inoculation with P. parasitica at the three- to four-leaf stage. F1 plants were resistant like the resistant parent and F2 populations segregated approximately nine resistant to seven susceptible. Using the resistant parent as recurrent parent, BC populations contained all resistant plants, while the BC to the susceptible parent fit a 1 resistant: 3 susceptible segregation ratio. These results can be explained by a model with two complementary dominant genes. This model was confirmed by the DH population that segregated ≈1:3, resistant to susceptible. Due to the dominant nature of this resistance, controlling genes should be easily incorporated into F1 hybrids and used commercially to prevent downy mildew.