Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Powdery mildew, caused by the biotrophic fungus Erysiphe pisi, is one of the most destructive diseases of peas (*Pisum sativum*) globally.
To develop resistant cultivars, plant breeders search for resistance genes in both cultivated lines and wild relatives of the crop.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In pea breeding, three major genes conferring resistance to powdery mildew have been identified:
1. er1 and er2 are recessive resistance genes. These are predominantly found in cultivated pea (*Pisum sativum*) germplasm.
2. Er3 is a highly valuable, single dominant resistance gene.
This dominant gene was successfully identified in and transferred from the wild pea species Pisum fulvum through interspecific hybridization.
The introduction of the *Er3* gene provides robust, durable resistance against a wide range of powdery mildew isolates, making it a highly prized tool for marker-assisted selection and hybrid development in vegetable pea breeding.
The other wild species, such as Pisum abyssinicum and Pisum elatius, do not harbor this specific dominant gene.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The single dominant gene (Er-3) is derived from the wild pea species Pisum fulvum, corresponding to option (B).