Field response of Lathyrus cicera germplasm to crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata)

Crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forks.) is a major constraint for grain and forage legume cultivation in Mediterranean agriculture, to which little resistance is available. We studied the response to O. crenata of a germplasm collection of chickling pea (Lathyrus cicera L.) in field trials over two seasons showing that resistance although scarce and masked by confounding factors, is available and can be used in breeding. The level of infection was highly influenced by environmental factors and plant growth cycle. Earlier accessions were less infected due to competition of the earlier settled pods with O. crenata tubercles. O. crenata infection strongly reduced host biomass and grain yield. Deviations from the polynomic regression gave an improved approximation of the true genetic resistance levels present in the germplasm.