Inheritance of Viral Bean Leaf Roll Tolerance in Peas

Abstract

The inheritance of tolerance to infection by bean leaf roll luteovirus (BLRV) in Pisum sativum L. was studied in the cross of cv. Parlay (sensitive to BLRV infection) × cv. Oregon Sugarpod II (BLRV tolerant). The parents, reciprocal F1, back-crosses, F2, and 234 random F3 families were screened in 1986 and 1987 in the field at Twin Falls, Idaho, under natural BLRV inoculation by aphids. Overall disease index scores for the F1, F2, and F3 were about intermediate between indices of the parents, with the F1 usually slightly higher than midparent values. Backcross disease indices were intermediate between the F1 and the respective parent involved. Distribution of individual F3 family indices was continuous and semi-normal. BLRV-sensitivity ranges within parents and selected cultivars, as well as segregating populations showed continuous variation and differed between the 2 years, suggesting that expression of a major gene was significantly influenced by natural variation in BLRV inoculation pressure and timing. An apparent “additive gene action” was probably an artifact of nonuniform timing and levels of infection within plant populations. Chi-square analyses of segregating populations indicated that a major recessive gene, called lrv, conferred BLR disease tolerance.