Genomics-Assisted Approaches for Improving Biotic Stress Response in Pea

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important cool season vegetable cum pulse crop grown across the globe. The potential productivity of the crop is often limited by the occurrence of various biotic stresses like Fusarium wilt and root rot, common root rot, powdery mildew, downy mildew, Ascochyta blight, rust, bacterial blight, nematodes, broom rape parasite, aphids, weevils and different viruses. Development of resistant varieties to these stresses through conventional breeding is quite time consuming and laborious. Advanced breeding techniques supplemented by omics resources would have great contribution in rapid development of varieties with potential yield and desirable quality traits along with resistance/tolerance to multiple biotic stresses. Accelerated genetic gain in breeding programme using diverse sources can be assured in resistance breeding against Fusarium wilt and root rot, powdery mildew, common root rot, rust Achochyta blight complex, broom rape, pea enation and mosaic virus owing to the identification of gene/QTL and their associated markers. Advanced genomic or breeding tools like transgenic technology, AgRenSeq, Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategies (FIGS), genomic selection, haplotype-based breeding and genome editing hold immense promise to cut short the breeding cycles. This chapter provide detailed insights into various biotic stresses of pea, inheritance of resistance, genetic resources, resistant varieties developed, QTL mapping, identification of candidate genes and advances & accomplishments made recently using other techniques like transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, FIGS, rapid R gene cloning through AgRenSeq, haplotype-based breeding, speed breeding, genomic selection, genome editing, etc. and their prospects in pea improvement programme against biotic stresses.