Role of Biotechnology for Incorporating White Rust Resistance in Brassica Species

Abstract

The productivity of the oilseed brassica species, the second most important edible oilseed crop in India, is adversely affected by several fungal diseases, white rust being one of the them. White rust caused by Albugo candida may cause 17–34% yield losses which may enhance upto 60% under environmental conditions favourable to disease infestation. While most of the cultivated species of brassicas are susceptible to this fungal disease, some sources of white rust resistance have been reported in widely related species. Apart from conventional methods of selection and hybridization, several in vitro techniques have been used to utilize these genes for incorporating resistance/tolerance in the cultivated varieties. The article presents a comprehensive status of Indian cultivated brassicas vis-a-vis white rust resistance, and the use of biotechnological tools such as embryo rescue, somatic hybridization, somaclonal variation and molecular techniques for incorporation of disease resistance.