Faba bean breeding for resistance against biotic stresses: Towards application of marker technology

• Published in: Euphytica Vol. 147; no. 1-2; pp. 67 - 80
• Main Authors: Torres, A.M, Roman, B, Avila, C.M, Satovic, Z, Rubiales, D, Sillero, J.C, Cubero, J.I, Moreno, M.T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 2006
• Subjects: Airborne microorganisms; Ascochyta; Beans; Blight; Botrytis fabae; Breeding; Broad beans; Chocolate spot; chromosome mapping; Chromosomes; Crop diseases; Cultivars; Disease resistance; Downy mildew; faba beans; Fungal diseases; fungal diseases of plants; Fungi; Fusarium; Gene mapping; genes; Genetic improvement; genetic markers; Genetics; genomics; literature reviews; Marker-assisted selection; Markers; Orobanche; phenotypic variation; Phenotypic variations; Plant breeding; plant pathogenic fungi; Quantitative trait loci; random amplified polymorphic DNA technique; Research programs; Rust fungi; State-of-the-art reviews; Stresses; Uromyces viciae-fabae; Vicia faba; Mediterranean Area
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/s10681-006-4057-6

Faba beans are adversely affected by numerous fungal diseases leading to a steady reduction in the cultivated area in many countries. Major diseases such as Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta fabae), rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae), chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae), downy mildew (Peornospora viciae) and foot rots (Fusarium spp.) are considered to be the major constraints to the crop. Importantly, broomrape (Orobanche crenata), a very aggressive parasitic angiosperm, is the most damaging and widespread enemy along the Mediterranean basin and Northern Africa. Recent mapping studies have allowed the identification of genes and QTLs controlling resistance to some of these diseases. In case of broomrape, 3 QTLs explained more than 70% of the phenotypic variance of the trait. Concerning Ascochyta, two QTLs located in chromosomes 2 and 3 explained 45% of variation. A second population sharing the susceptible parental line also revealed two QTLs, one of them likely sharing chromosomal location and jointly contributing with a similar percentage of the total phenotypic variance. Finally, several RAPD markers linked to a gene determining hypersensitive resistance to race 1 of the rust fungus U. viciae-fabae have also been reported. The aim of this paper is to review the state of the art of gene technology for genetic improvement of faba bean against several important biotic stresses. Special emphasis is given on the application of marker technology, and Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis for Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) in the species. Finally, the potential use of genomic tools to facilitate breeding in the species is discussed. The combined approach should expedite the future development of lines and cultivars with multiple disease resistance, one of the top priorities in faba bean research programs.