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'Horticulture' CRISPR Cas-mediated and inter-species transfer of broad-spectrum, potentially durable disease resistance in crop plants (CRIMIST-DR).

Reference	BB/X011798/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor John Walsh
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Charlotte Nellist
Institution	University of Warwick
Department	School of Life Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	50,404
Status	Current
Type	Research Grant
Start date	16/01/2023
End date	15/07/2023
Duration	6 months

Abstract

Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), an important pathogen infecting many crop plant species, reducing yields and making them unmarketable is a member of the Potyviridae family. Like other members of this family, it uses eukaryotic initiation factor 4E proteins [eIF4Es] to complete its life cycle. We identified recessive broad-spectrum, potentially durable resistance to TuMV in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa sub-species pekinensis) and showed that the resistance was due to a non-functional copy of eIF(iso)4E. B. rapa has three copies of eIF(iso)4E and three copies of eIF4E, explaining why its growth was unaffected by the loss of one of the copies of eIF(iso)4E. Despite much effort, we have been unable to identify any meaningful resistance to TuMV in the related and important vegetable plant species Brassica oleracea (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts etc). In a collaboration between the Elizabeth Creak Horticultural Technology Centre and the Plant Virology Group at the University of Warwick, NIAB and the commercial company Syngenta, we aim to knock out the ortholog of eIF(iso)4E that TuMV is most likely to need in order to reproduce in B. oleracea utilising CRISP Cas gene editing, thereby establishing a technique to rapidly develop virus-resistant varieties of the different B. oleracea types. In collaboration with the commercial seed company Syngenta, we also aim to move the non-functional copy of eIF(iso)4E that the virus cannot use from Chinese cabbage into commercial B. oleracea types by conventional crossing, in order to develop virus-resistant plants by this alternative non-gene editing route for markets like the EU where gene-edited crops are not approved.

Summary

The virus called turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) is an important pathogen infecting many crop plant types, reducing yields and making them unmarketable. In order to reproduce, the virus has to use certain proteins in plants. Without these proteins it cannot reproduce. One such plant protein is called the eukaryotic initiation factor iso4E [eIF(iso)4E]. We have shown that in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa sub-species pekinensis) which has three copies of eIF(iso)4E, if one of the copies is missing, the virus cannot reproduce, but the plant is unaffected. Chinese cabbage varieties with this resistance (that was identified and characterised at the University of Warwick) are currently being developed by an international seed company (Syngenta). Chinese cabbage is the most important vegetable brassica crop worldwide. We have been unable to identify any resistance to TuMV in the related and important plant species Brassica oleracea, which includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts etc. In collaboration between the Elizabeth Creak Horticultural Technology Centre and the Plant Virology Group at the University of Warwick, NIAB and the commercial plant breeding company Syngenta, we aim to knock out the copy of eIF(iso)4E that TuMV needs in order to reproduce in B. oleracea utilising gene editing technology, thereby establishing a technique to rapidly develop virus-resistant varieties of the different B. oleracea types. In collaboration with the commercial seed company Syngenta, we also aim to move the copy of eIF(iso)4E that the virus cannot use from Chinese cabbage into B. oleracea by conventional crossing, in order to develop virus-resistant plants by this alternative route.

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Crop pest and diseases partnerships [2022]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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