ðɪs dʒɪnˈɛɾɪk daɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ɪz kənsˈɪdɚd ɐ ɹᵻsˈoːɹs fɔːɹ lˈɛɾɪs bɹˈiːdɪŋ bɪkˈʌz ɪt pɹəvˈaɪdz ɐ ɡɹˈeɪɾɚ vɚɹˈaɪəɾi ʌv dʒˈiːnz təbi jˈuːzd ɪn ɹᵻspˈɑːns tə nˈuː stɹˈeɪnz ʌv bˈiː. lˈæktuːkˌiː, wˌɪtʃ kəntˈɪnjuːəli ɪmˈɜːdʒ.
This genetic diversity is considered a resource for lettuce breeding because it provides a greater variety of genes to be used in response to new strains of B. lactucae, which continually emerge.