Allele diversity analysis to identify SNPs associated with ascochyta blight resistance in pea

Development of pea cultivars with improved resistance to ascochyta blight disease has been hindered due to lack of strong resistance. The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the candidate genes associated with ascochyta blight resistance that can be used to aid selection. A total of 54 diverse Pisum sativum accessions from eastern Europe, western Europe, Australia, and Canada were genotyped and phenotyped for disease reaction. Fifteen SNPs were detected within candidate genes associated with reaction to ascochyta blight, of which SNP loci PsDof1p308 and RGA-G3Ap103 had significant associations with ascochyta blight scores. Further, PsDof1p308 showed significant association with disease score when tested on a recombinant inbred line population (PR-15) developed from a cross between 'CDC 1-2347-144' and 'CDC Meadow'. SNPs identified in this study have the potential to aid selection of pea cultivars with improved disease resistance.