Understanding the molecular basis of Fusarium solani mediated root rot in Pisum sativum

Pisum sativum (pea) yields have declined significantly over the last few decades. Root rot caused by the soil fungus, Fusarium solani f. sp. Pisi (Fsp) is one of the predominant cause of decline in yields. To gain a comprehensive and comparative insight into the molecular changes that accompany Fsp infection we performed a time-course transcriptome analysis in a set of tolerant and susceptible Pisum genotypes challenged with the pathogen. Identity and putative functionality of the transcripts were determined using a custom workflow that integrates the following software: BLAST, GO Enrichment and InterPro Scan. Comparison of the expression values between shared genes between the susceptible and tolerant sets revealed 2,465 differentially expressed genes. We are interested in identifying polymorphisms in the differentially expressed shared gene set and have employed the SeqMan Pro workflow in identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in differentially expressed genes. . These SNPs in the DRG and DEG set will be used for polymorphisms in parental genotypes as well as F7 segregating population to identify molecular markers associated with disease tolerance or susceptibility. Identified SNPs that are strongly associated with Fsp tolerance or susceptibility are expected to be useful for marker assisted selection (MAS) of seedlings in pea breeding programs.