Accelerated breeding of impatiens resistant to downy mildew

Important bedding plant under attack

In 2011, worldwide impatiens business suffered from a sudden outbreak of downy mildew in virtually all important genotypes. Economically speaking, impatiens is one of the most important bedding plants worldwide.

Being the market leader in impatiens, Ball Horticultural urgently needed a solution, to supply growers with resistant varieties. That’s why Ball Horticultural turned to KeyGene for support.

Accelerated breeding

In a project team, harboring experts from Ball Horticultural, a research project was developed and carried out. Using the DNA-sequencing technology best fit for the purpose, state-of-the-art data science, and large-scale phenotyping, Ball’s germplasm was screened to select the most promising parents. The team also developed molecular markers for DNA that is linked with resistance. Then, crosses were made, and progenies were screened using these molecular markers.

This resulted in a fast and effective introgression of a resistance source in Ball’s breeding program, and in the development and market introduction of a range of resistant varieties, called the ‘Beacon’ impatiens.

More information

• Learn more about KeyGene’s technology innovation in DNA & RNA technology
• Read more about the perspectives of KeyGene’s support in revealing and understanding genetic variation
• In 2018, Ball Horticulture and KeyGene announced the successful sequencing of the genome of Impatiens walleriana