Genetic and environmental regulation of plant architectural traits and opportunities for pest control in raspberry

• Published in: Annals of applied biology Vol. 165; no. 3; pp. 318 - 328
• Main Authors: Graham, J., Hackett, C.A., Smith, K., Karley, A.J., Mitchell, C., Roberts, H., O'Neill, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2014; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Aphididae; Araneae; Biological and medical sciences; Control; Crop science; disease resistance; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetic markers; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Herbivores; insect-plant interactions; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; plant breeding; plant resistance to insects; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Plant production; Plant; Applied biology; Architecture; Pest management; Environment; Genetics
• ISSN: 0003-4746; 1744-7348
• DOI: 10.1111/aab.12134

Part of the reason for the under‐exploitation of physical resistance traits in plant breeding is that the genetic basis and heritability of these traits is poorly characterised, and any associations of particular traits with pest and disease resistances have yet to be determined. In raspberry, some associations between architectural traits and disease resistances have been demonstrated, for example cane hairs and resistance to cane diseases. The aim of this work is to examine a range of traits, including leaf trichomes, leaf density, cane density, bush density, lateral length and lateral numbers, to determine the heritability and therefore breeding potential of these traits. The effect of these traits against aphids and spider mites, two important pests in raspberry, was examined. Chromosomal regions with candidate genes regulating these traits were identified as the first step to understanding the genetic control.