454 PB 323 SELECTION FOR ASTER YELLOWS RESISTANCE IN CARROT

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 29; no. 5; p. 496
• Main Authors: Gabelman, W.H, Goldman, I.L, Breitbach, D. N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.1994
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.29.5.496d

Aster yellows, an insect-vectored disease caused by a mycoplasmalike organism, limits vegetable crop production in the Midwestern U.S.A breeding effort was initiated in 1982 to develop aster yellows resistance in carrot. A synthetic population (AYSYN) composed of 5 open-pollinated varieties and 4 inbreds was assembled in 1982. Inbred lines and hybrids were extracted from AYSYN using a variety of methods. Selection in artificially-infected field sites was carried out from 1982 until 1989. Twenty-three inbreds and 3 hybrids were developed from AYSYN during the selection process. Replicated field experiments were conducted in 1990, 1991, and 1993 to determine the relative aster yellows resistance of these lines and hybrids in comparison with 6 check cultivars. Averaged over years, significant differences were detected for percent aster yellows infection among genotypes. Lines selected for resistance had a mean of 12% infected plant per plot as compared to 24% infection for standard cultivars. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of inbreeding and field selection for aster yellows resistance. This breeding effort represents the first report of aster yellows-resistant carrot germplasm.