Quantitative resistance to aphanomyces root rot in legumes

Aphanomyces root rot, caused by the soilborne oomycete Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs., is an important threat to legume crop production. In susceptible grain legumes, such as pea (Pisum sativum) and lentil (Lens culinaris), the disease can cause total yield loss under favorable infection conditions. No effective and durable method of disease control is currently available. Therefore, farmers are advised to prevent the spread of the pathogen through crop rotations with non-host or resistant crops, and by monitoring soil inoculum levels using detection tests. Genetic resistance is an essential method to manage crop diseases. Indeed, significant progress has been achieved over the past three decades in identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to A. euteiches mainly in pea, but also in lentil, faba bean (Vicia faba), and the model species Medicago truncatula. These advances in genetics research have led to the recent registration in France of the first partially resistant pea varieties. This feature article provides a review of the research knowledge on A. euteiches x legumes pathosystem, as well as plant sources of resistance, genetic determinants, and molecular mechanisms of quantitative resistance to A. euteiches currently being deciphered in pulse grains and the model legume studied. It also highlights future research directions for the development of effective and durable resistance in legume varieties.