Spitfire – Screening of Pisum sativum (pea) accessions for pea necrotic yellow dwarf virus resistance

Spitfire
Project duration: 01.11.2021 – 31.08.2024

Project Summery

The production of green peas for the fresh and frozen markets is an important niche sector within agricultural production systems. Green peas are a high value crop grown on approx. 5,400 ha generating a turnover of €1,404,000 on fresh markets alone in Germany and 2,5200 ha in Austria. In addition, protein peas have become more and more important as part of animal feed or as alternative crop for enhancing soil nutrition and soil health. Pea proteins, starch or fibres are also being used in novel food and technical products. Numerous pathogens, in particular plant viruses, are threatening successful production of peas. Plant viruses cannot be controlled directly. Indirect measures are targeting the prevention of infection by e.g. using certified virus-free planting material or strict hygiene measures. As most legume-infecting viruses are insect-transmitted, these options are not feasible. Vector control by using pesticides is expensive and often not effective as insects develop pesticide resistance or can transmit and spread viral diseases before the insecticides are effective. In case of organic farming, synthetic pesticides are banned anyway. A sustainable approach to grow peas without viral infections would be the use of virus-resistant varieties. Virus-resistance can be genetically inherited and is therefore suitable for both conventional and organic production systems. Resistance genes in peas have been described for several viruses, and molecular markers have been developed to speed up the breeding process of pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV)- or bean leafroll virus (BLRV)-resistant pea varieties. However, the biggest threat to Austrian and German pea production lays is with the nanovirus pea necrotic yellow dwarf virus (PNYDV). This virus has only been discovered approximately 10 years ago, but has caused already substantial crop losses. In contrast to PEMV or BRLV, PNYDV does not only cause symptoms that lead to yield losses, but infection can lead to plant death and therefore total crop failure. This virus is solely transmitted by aphids; efficiency of vector control by pesticides to prevent PNYDV in the field is limited. So far, no PNYDV-resistant pea variety has been identified. This project aims to address the following objectives:

- Identification of genetic resources for PNYDV resistance in pea germplasm in greenhouse screening tests

- Evaluation of selected pea accessions under field conditions with respect to the potential of PNYDV-resistance in the field

- Evaluation of agronomic and morphological parameters (growth, yield, susceptibility to pathogens) of these accessions under field conditions

- Laying the foundation for further research projects to develop marker-assisted breeding of PNYDV-resistant varieties.

The SPITFIRE consortium consists of experts in plant virology and plant genetic resources, i.e. Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), AGES and IPK. The coordination of the project will be handled by GFPi and ecoplus. The user committee consists of partners along the value chain of green and protein peas: pea breeders, molecular breeding researchers, pea growers and processors, and vegetable marketing organisations. This support demonstrates the importance of this project for this industry.

This cross-national project is necessary to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and material as no commercial pea breeders exist in Austria. Austrian pea growers and processors are dependent on varieties that are mainly bred in Germany; for German breeders, the Austrian market is very valuable. No PNYDV-resistant pea germplasm has been identified in preliminary tests therefore it is necessary to screen genebank material for potentially resistant or tolerant germplasm. Albeit a highly risky task (there might be no PNYDV-resistant material in existence), this project is necessary to lay the foundation for follow-up projects in which the genetic material will be used for identification of molecular markers. This can enhance and speed up the pea breeding process to make PNYDV resistant pea varieties commercially available in the future.

Associations:

Coordinating Association Germany:

Dr. Jan Jacobi

Gemeinschaft zur Förderung von Pflanzeninnovation e.V. (GFPi)
Kaufmannstraße 71-73

53115 Bonn

Participating Association Austria:

Magdalena Resch

Ecoplus. The business agency of Lower Austria Ltd.

Niederösterreicher Ring 2, Haus A

3100 St. Pölten

Research Performer:

Germany:

Dr. Heiko Ziebell

Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants

Erwin-Bauer-Str. 27

06484 Quedlinburg

Dr. Ulrike Lohwasser

Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK)

Corrensstr. 34

06466 Seeland, OT Gatersleben

Austria:

Dr. Sabine Grausgruber-Gröger

Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)

Spargelfeldstr. 191

1220 Wien

Participating Companies:

Germany
Biofrost Westhof Rudolf-Scheerer-Str. 2 25797 Wöhrden	Heiner Brassart
Landwirt Fromme Zum Riesenberg 4 38154 Königslutter/Scheppa	Burkhard Fromme
FRoSTA AG Messaer Str. 3-5 01623 Lommatzsch	Felix Meyer
Limagrain GmbH Salder Straße 4 31226 Peine	Stefan Abel
NPZ Innovation GmbH Hohenlieth Hof 24363 Holtsee	Gunhild Leckband
Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG Hohenlieth-Hof 24363 Holtsee	Olaf Sass
P.H. Petersen Streichmühler Str. 8a 24977 Grundhof	Michaela Schlathölter
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen Ludwigstr. 23 35390 Gieße	Christian Obermeier
Van Waveren Saaten GmbH Auf der Feldscheide 1 37124 Rosdorf	Willem Molenaar
Austria
Ardo Austria Frost GmbH Marchfelder Straße 2 2301 Groß Enzersdorf	Udo Tegtmeier
Bio Austria Niederösterreich und Wien Matthias Corvinusstraße 8/UG 3100 St. Pölten	Otto Gasselich
ETG e. Gen. Erzeugergemeinschaft Tiefkühlgemüse Marchfelderstraße 3 2301 Groß Enzersdorf	Norbert Friedrich
Gerhard Hof Dörfles 3 2253 Dörfles	Gerhard Hof
Gerhard Michaeler Hauptstraße 56 2293 Marchegg	Gerhard Michaeler
Landesprodukten-HandelsgesellschaftmbH Heinrich-Lohr-Weg 2 2301 Groß-Enzersdorf	Barbara Kargl
Michaela Piatti – Gutsverwaltung Stutenhof Nr. 111 2163 Pottenhofen	Michael Piatti
Niederösterreichischer Gemüsebauverband Wiener Straße 64 3100 St. Pölten	Josef Keferböck
Thomas Schneider Schloßhoferstraße 3 2301 Groß-Enzersdorf	Thomas Schneider

Weitere Informationen können über die GFPi-Geschäftsstelle bezogen werden: gfpi(at)bdp-online.de

Förderhinweis:

Das IGF-Vorhaben 310 EBR der Forschungsvereinigung GFPi e.V. wurde über die AiF im Rahmen des Programms zur Förderung der industriellen Gemeinschaftsforschung und -entwicklung (IGF) vom Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie aufgrund eines Beschlusses des deutschen Bundestages gefördert.

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