Protealis, Ghent University and ILVO will develop molecular tools to accelerate the breeding of virus-resistant pea varieties in Flanders

Ghent university, ILVO and Protealis, a Ghent startup company in legume breeding, announce a new collaboration on the development of virus-resistant pea varieties, addressing critical challenges in agriculture caused by viral infections.

This collaboration marks a significant step in supporting farmers, improving yields, and strengthening the future of sustainable plant-based protein production.

Peas are a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, offering nutritional benefits and improving soil health through nitrogen fixation. As the demand for plant-based proteins grows, the need to address biotic stresses including viral infections has become increasingly urgent. Recent years have witnessed escalating outbreaks of different pea viruses in Flanders, leading to yield losses and decreased farmer revenues.

The project focuses on identifying and collecting virus-resistant pea accessions from across the globe. Macarena Martin, Breeder at Protealis who is leading this PhD project, reacted ″By mapping the genomic regions associated with virus resistance, this project aims to develop unique molecular markers that will accelerate breeding efforts.

These advanced molecular tools will be integrated into Protealis' breeding pipelines to develop high-yielding, virus-resistant pea varieties, addressing a key challenge for growers and contributing to more sustainable agriculture.″

Macarena Martin will be guided by the academic promotors Prof. Monica Höfte (Ghent University) and Dr. Kris Dejonghe (ILVO). The PhD study will start on the 1 January 2025 and is financially supported by VLAIO, the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Protealis.