USDA Logo
ARS Logo

  Wheat, Peanut, and Other Field Crops Research
Printer FriendlyPrinter Friendly Email this pageEmail this page
 
Search
 
 
This site only
  Advanced Search
 
Research
  Programs and Projects
 
 
  Display category headings
Research
Research >
Research Project: IMPROVEMENT OF DISEASE RESISTANCE AND THE QUALITY OF PEANUT

Location: Wheat, Peanut, and Other Field Crops Research

Project Number: 6217-21220-005-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Feb 07, 2003
End Date: Feb 06, 2008

Objective:
Identify disease resistance in breeding and transgenic lines of peanut, and develop superior greenhouse methods to identify and quantify resistance. Determine pathogen variability and monitor the development of highly aggressive isolates. Produce transgenic peanut lines with useful genes for fungal and viral disease resistance, improved oil quality, and reduced allergenicity. Develop molecular markers to assist in resistance selection. Investigate the role of calcium nutrition in disease development. Develop basic understanding of the role of weed species in maintaining soil populations of fungal peanut pathogens.

Approach:
Peanut breeding and transgenic lines will be tested for their reaction to important pathogens in small plots under field conditions, and in the greenhouse by using improved methodology under controlled environmental conditions to select for resistance. Pathogenic and genetic variability of peanut pathogens will be tested using plant pathological and DNA procedures. Peanut pods with normal and enhanced calcium content will be challenged with cell wall degrading pathogens and disease reaction will be evaluated. Weeds, common in peanut fields, will be tested for their hostability to peanut pathogens, and the consequential effect on pathogen population in soil. Gene constructs known to encode desirable traits will be introduced into peanut suitable for production in the Southwest using the well-accepted technique of microprojectile bombardment of explant tissues. Transgenic plants expressing desired genes will be analyzed for fertility, transgenic efficacy, and inheritance. Molecular markers to assist in resistance selection will be developed using various genomic methods.

 
Project Team
Melouk, Hassan
Chenault, Kelly

Project Annual Reports
  FY 2003

Publications

Related National Programs
  Plant Biological and Molecular Processes (302)
  Plant Diseases (303)

 
ARS Home |  USDA |  Home | About Us | Research | Products & Services | People & Places  | News & Events | Partnering | Careers | Contact Us | Help |
Site Map |  Freedom of Information Act |  Statements & Disclaimers |  Employee Resources |  FirstGov |  White House