Project Number: 5358-22000-034-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 08, 2004
End Date: Aug 31, 2009

Objective:
Develop improved germplasm and cultivars of hazelnut with resistance to Eastern Filbert Blight and suitability for the kernel market.

Approach:
The general approach relies upon plant breeding complemented by marker-assisted selection. Two strategies are proposed, one utilizing a known dominant gene (called 'Gasaway') for resistance to Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB), with the second strategy seeking and exploiting other sources of EFB resistance. For the first strategy, selections from crosses will be screened initally for the presence of the 'Gasaway' gene using DNA markers that flank the resistance gene. Selections with the DNA markers will then be evaluated for EFB resistance in the greenhouse and in the field. In the second strategy, germplasm lacking the 'Gasaway' will be evaluated for susceptibility to EFB. Germplasm exhibiting resistance will be incorporated into the breeding program as it is discovered. DNA markers for each resistance gene will be identified for use in marker-assisted selection. The linkage map for hazelnut, which was developed recently, will be continually enhanced by developing primers for additional SSR (simple sequence repeat) loci. Dominant EFB resistance genes will be mapped on the genome of hazelnut based on linkage to mapped SSR loci. Documents SCA with OSU. Replacing 5358-22000-030-01S (9/04). Formerly 5358-22000-030-02S (6/07).