Resistance to Phytophthora nicotianae in Tobacco Breeding Lines Derived from Variety Beinhart 1000

Abstract

Black shank, caused by Phytophthora nicotianae, is managed primarily by host resistance. The rapid emergence of race 1 eliminated the usefulness of available complete resistance, leading breeders to search for new sources of resistance. Cigar tobacco ‘Beinhart 1000’ (BH) is highly resistant to all races of P. nicotianae. Doubled-haploid (DH) lines from a cross of BH and the susceptible ‘Hicks’ were evaluated for black shank resistance, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) on linkage groups (LGs) 4 and 8 accounted for >43% of the phenotypic variation in resistance. Forty-three DH lines and parents were evaluated, and genotypes with one or both QTL from BH on LGs 4 and 8 had increased incubation periods and decreased root rot but higher final inoculum levels than genotypes with neither QTL. A low level of stem resistance was observed in BH and DH lines with the QTL from BH on LG 4 but not LG 8. Low levels of leaf resistance were seen for Hicks, BH, and DH lines with both QTL from BH on LG 4 and 8. The partial resistance from BH has not been used commercially and may provide an increase in level of partial resistance in future tobacco varieties.