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A candidate-gene approach to analyse the resistance of plants to phytopathogenic fungi is presented. The resistance of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedii) shows a gene-for-gene interaction (monogenic resistance), whereas resistance to white rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is quantitative, with different levels of resistance for different plant parts. By homology cloning, probes were obtained homologous to some plant resistance genes (nucleotide binding site-like, NBS, genes and serine-threonine protein kinase-like, PK, genes). These clones were used as probes for linkage mapping of the corresponding genes. It was demonstrated that at least three NBS-like loci are located on linkage-group 1, in the region where downy mildew resistance loci have been described. Quantitative trait loci for S. sclerotiorum resistance to penetration or extension of the mycelium in different tissues were studied in three crosses. Major QTLs for resistance were found on linkage group 1, with up to 50% of the phenotypic variability explained by peaks at the map position of the PK locus, 25 cM from the downy mildew loci.

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Changes in virulence of Plasmopara halstedii populations under different major gene (Pl) management strategies were studied over 5 years continuous cropping of one sunflower hybrid under netting cages. Strategies were monoculture of forms of the hybrid with 1 gene or with combinations of 2 genes, alternation of different genes, and mixtures of several different forms of the hybrid. Monoculture with single resistance genes led to loss of efficient resistance after 3 years, with high levels of disease and increased variability of the pathogen, whatever the Pl gene used. Combinations of genes, alternation and mixtures gave longer term control of downy mildew. In particular, combinations of resistance genes coming from both female and male parents of the hybrid (such that even impurities had a resistance gene) gave the best control and least variation in pathogen virulence. Results are discussed with the object of durable control of downy mildew by all methods available.

Assessing the performance and the characteristics (e.g. yield, quality, disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance) of new varieties is a key component of crop performance improvement. However, the variety testing process is presently exclusively based on experimental field approaches which inherently reduces the number and the diversity of experienced combinations of varieties x environmental conditions in regard of the multiplicity of growing conditions within the cultivation area. Our aim is to make a greater and faster use of the information issuing from these trials using crop modeling and simulation to amplify the environmental and agronomic conditions in which the new varieties are tested. In this study, we present a model-based approach to assist variety testing and implement this approach on sunflower crop, using the SUNFLO simulation model and a subset of 80 trials from a large multi-environment trial (MET) conducted each year by agricultural extension services to compare newly released sunflower hybrids. After estimating parameter values (using plant phenotyping) to account for new genetic material, we independently evaluated the model prediction capacity on the MET (model accuracy was 54.4 %) and its capacity to rank commercial hybrids for performance level (Kendall's $\tau$ = 0.41, P < 0.01). We then designed a numerical experiment by combining the previously tested genetic and new cropping conditions (2100 virtual trials) to determine the best varieties and related management in representative French production regions. We suggest that this approach could find operational outcomes to recommend varieties according to environment types. Such spatial management of genetic resources could potentially improve crop performance by reducing the genotype-phenotype mismatch in farming environments.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figure

Variety assessment could be supported by the use of dynamic crop modelling. The SUNFLO model was developed to simulate the achene yield and oil concentration of sunflower crop with a special attention paid to the description of varietal diversity. For that purpose, a variety was characterized in the model by 12 parameters of phenology, leaf area development, allocation and response to water stress. These parameters were measured either in field conditions (dense stands) or in greenhouse pot experiments. In 2008, two variety trials were carried out by CETIOM in non limiting conditions and a greenhouse experiment was conducted by INRA to calibrate the response of leaf expansion and plant transpiration to soil water depletion. The model parameterized with these 3 experiments on 18 commercial varieties was evaluated for yield in 42 situations of the post-registration network conducted by CETIOM in France in 2008. The yield of a given variety in a given environment was simulated with a mean error of 5 q/ha (relative error = 16%). When averaging a variety over all the environments or an environment over all the varieties, the error was of 3.5 q/ha (relative error = 11%). The model could be used to rank environments (through sunflower crop response) in a variety assessment network and to separate varieties with sufficient phenotypic differences.

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Three inoculation methods were evaluated for effectiveness to cause sunflower premature ripening (PR). Evaluations were conducted on a sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivar susceptible to PR in replicated, multilocation experiments under greenhouse conditions. Plants were inoculated with Phoma macdonaldii, either with mycelium, conidia, or infected residues at the stem base or with buried residues. Disease severity (DS) was measured by percent girdling necrosis at the stem base and percent final PR; the infection spread was assessed using the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Inoculation with mycelia or 1 × 106 spores/ml caused significantly more DS and PR than lower spore concentrations or infected residues (P < 0.05). Amending soil with residues induced root necrosis but no PR. P. macdonaldii was mainly isolated at the stem base and above but rarely on root systems. Microscopic evaluations showed that hyphae colonized mainly the cortex and vascular stem tissues. The overall results demonstrated a clear role of aerial infection in PR compared with soilborne inoculum, and that inoculation at the stem base with a spore suspension could be used for screening genotypes for resistance to PR.