Page 125 - Plant Canada 2024 Proceeding

PLANT CANADA 2024

programs. In this study, two high throughput phenotyping tools were developed for FDK and DON
measurement. A fast chromatography (FC) - tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method was developed
for DON quantification. It employs a one-step acetonitrile extraction protocol with a short guard column to
reduce complexity, cost and analysis time. In addition, a high-throughput single-kernel screening tool was
developed to assess FDK through automated image acquisition and analysis. It non-destructively images
and analyzes samples composed of several hundred seeds, taking close-up top and side images of
individual kernels. Meanwhile a customized convolutional neural network (CNN) model was developed
and trained to process, count, and analyze vast amounts of scanned sample images. Preliminary results
with the CNN model are promising; it can automatically determine the percentage of FDK in much less
time than visual assessment.
[O47] A NEW MODEL: FUNCTIONAL GENES CONTRIBUTING TO ADULT PLANT RESISTANCE
2 1
1
FROM CANOLA-BLACKLEG PLAYBOOK. Zhongwei Zou and W. G. Dilantha Fernando . Department
of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3C5; and
2 Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, 66 Dafoe Rd, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2N2
Correspondence to: zzou@wlu.ca

Blackleg, primarily caused by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, is one of the most
devastating diseases in canola (Brassica napus), resulting in significant yield loss worldwide. Recent
management strategies to minimize infection include of using resistant varieties based on the R-Avr
interaction between canola and blackleg, crop rotation, rotation of resistance sources, seed treatments,
disease scouting, and forecasting. Besides the R gene-determined resistance (qualitative or seedling
resistance), quantitative resistance or adult plant resistance controlled by minor or functional genes is
another option that can be incorporated into the canola for breeding against diseases. BnNCED3 (9-cis-
epoxycarotenoid dioxygenease), is an essential gene in ABA biosynthesis, can enhance adult plant
resistance to blackleg infection in overexpressed transgenic lines. However, BnTX1 (trithorax-like factor),
which interacts with the promoter region of BnNCED3, plays a negative role, as overexpressed transgenic
plants exhibit decreased adult plant resistance to blackleg pathogen infection. Moreover, overexpression
of another transcription factor, BnNAC19, has enhanced adult plant resistance against blackleg pathogen
in transgenic canola plants. Our study unveils a new model illustrating how functional genes enhance
adult plant disease resistance by regulating ABA biosynthesis and transcription factor activity in plant
signaling pathways. These findings may pave the way for the characterization of minor/quantitative genes
in the B. napus–L. maculans interaction.

[O48] CANADIAN DURUM WHEAT CULTIVAR STRONGFIELD EXHIBITS MODERATE
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MEXICAN LEAF RUST (PUCCINIA TRITICINA) RACES. Firdissa E. Bokore ,
1
1*
4
1
3
Kerry Boyle , Yuefeng Ruan , Curt A. McCartney , Colin W. Hiebert , Ron E. Knox , Xiangyu Pei , Elsa
2
3
Reimer , Karim Ammar , Wentao Zhang , Pierre Fobert , Richard D. Cuthbert , Samia Berraies , and
4
5
2
1
1
2
Brent D. McCallum . Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food
4 1
Canada, 1 Airport Road, P.O. Box 1030, Swift Current, SK, Canada. S9H 3X2; Aquatic and Crop
2
Resource Development, National Research Council Canada, 110 Gymnasium Pl, Saskatoon, SK,
Canada. S7N 0W9; Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, 66 Dafoe Road University of
3
Manitoba (Fort Garry campus) Winnipeg, MB, Canada. R3T 2N2; Morden Research and Development
4
Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 101 Rte. 100 #100, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5 Canada; and
*
5 International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Texcoco, Mexico ( Retired)
Correspondence to: firdissa.bokore@agr.gc.ca; brent.mcallum@agr.gc.ca

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina (Pt) Eriks., is a major disease of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.
var. durum) in the world. Canadian durum wheat has traditionally been very resistant to Pt isolates from
Canada, but races that specifically attack durum wheat in Mexico are virulent on Canadian durum
cultivars. A multi-parental population comprised of six subpopulations with the backbone Canadian durum
cultivar Strongfield as a common parental line was used to uncover the genetic resistance to Canadian
and Mexican leaf rust races. The six populations were evaluated at the seedling plant stage with different
Canadian Pt races at Morden Research and Development Centre. Of these populations,
Strongfield/Blackbird was evaluated for adult plant leaf rust infection near Morden and Carman, Canada
and El Batan, Mexico, and Strongfield/RL6089 was evaluated at Morden, Canada and Obregon, Mexico.
Strongfield was evaluated against nine Mexican leaf rust races during seedling stage. All six populations
were genotyped with the Illumina iSelect 90K SNP array. Genome wide association study, stepwise
124