SCREENING OF FIELD PEA BREEDING LINES FOR PEA SEED-BORNE MOSAIC VIRUS

Abstract

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) was first identified in Canadian field pea (Pisum sativum L.) breeding lines in 1974. Since then, an extensive program has been underway to eradicate this virus from the breeding lines. At the Morden Research Station, nearly 2000 breeding lines were evaluated. The virus was assayed by infectivity tests using the local lesion host Chenopodium amaranticolor, and by a gel immunodiffusion test. PSbMV was detected in 1361 lines. The level of infection within lines varied from 1 to 3%. Due to the restricted extent of the virus in the breeding lines, it was possible to continue the breeding program without a serious loss in germplasm.