Resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus and Root‐Knot Nematode in Peanut Interspecific Breeding Lines

Abstract

The peanut root‐knot nematode [Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood race 1] and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), genus Tospovirus, are economically significant pathogens of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the USA. Peanut cultivars are available that have resistance to either the peanut root‐knot nematode (PRN) or TSWV, but no cultivars are available that have resistance to both pathogens. The objective of this research was to identify peanut breeding lines that have resistance to both pathogens. We crossed interspecific peanut germplasm with two cultivars that are susceptible to both PRN and TSWV. Progenies were examined in a greenhouse screening system to measure resistance to PRN. Subsequently, this material was evaluated for resistance to TSWV in field plots. Ten breeding lines were identified which exhibited a reduction in nematode reproduction in comparison to the nematode susceptible check ‘Georgia Green’. These breeding lines also exhibited a reduction in incidence of TSWV in comparison to the TSWV susceptible check ‘COAN’. When grown in a field with pressure from both pathogens, these breeding lines had higher yield than cultivars with resistance to only one pathogen. This is the first report of peanut germplasm with resistance to both TSWV and the peanut root‐knot nematode and the first report of resistance to TSWV in interspecific peanut germplasm.