Breeding for disease resistance in the major cool-season turfgrasses

Stacy A. Bonos, Bruce B. Clarke, William A. Meyer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Over the past several decades, breeding cool-season turfgrasses for improved disease resistance has been the focus of many turfgrass breeding programs. This review article discusses the dramatic improvements made in breeding Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) for resistance to leaf spot (caused by Drechslera poae), stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis), and stripe smut (caused by Ustilago striiformis); perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) for resistance to gray leaf spot (caused by Pyricularia grisea), stem rust and crown rust (caused by Puccinia coronata); tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) for resistance to brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) and stem rust; creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) for resistance to dollar spot (caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa); and fine fescues (Festuca spp.) for improved disease resistance. Historically, the dramatic improvements in disease resistance of the cool-season grasses have been attributed to traditional/conventional breeding techniques; however, it is likely that functional genomics and molecular techniques will play a more significant role in the development of cultivated turfgrasses as the specific genes and mechanisms for disease resistance are identified in the future.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationAnnual Review of Phytopathology
EditorsDawson Alfen
Pages213-234
Number of pages22
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006

Publication series

NameAnnual Review of Phytopathology
Volume44

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Plant Science

Keywords

  • Cultivar
  • Heritability
  • Intraspecific and interspecific hybridization
  • Qualitative and quantitative resistance
  • Quantitative trait loci
  • Recurrent selection

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