Genetic enhancement of resistance to foliar diseases

Rust and Late leaf spot are among the most destructive and widespread diseases of groundnut. Cultivation of resistant varieties is economically most viable and environmentally sound strategy. Germplasm with high level of resistance is available in cultivated and/or related wild species. In spite of innumerable attempts, breeding has met with limited success in combining resistance with yield, crop quality and adaptation. The modern tool of Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) is expected to improve the speed and precision of resistance breeding. The progress and challenges in the application of molecular markers in breeding for resistance to foliar diseases will be discussed