Award details

401c: Genetics of disease resistance in Arabidopsis for use in crops

Reference	BBS/E/H/00032642
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Eric Holub
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Warwick
Department	Warwick HRI
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	547,000
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2003
End date	31/03/2005
Duration	24 months

Abstract

Our ultimate objective is to advance knowledge of how durable disease control is achieved in wild plant species by a natural mosaic of complementary sources of disease resistance among individuals in a given host population. We have been using the common wild flower Arabidopsis thaliana to genetically dissect components of species level (non-host) resistance to crop pathogens, and revealed R-genes (naturally variable determinants of pathogen recognition) and defence regulators (highly conserved genes required for signalling a defence response) that are typical components of monogenic disease resistance in Arabidopsis to its own parasites. For the next phase of this research, we will investigate sources of recessive, polygenic, and/or rate-reducing resistance in Arabidopsis. These phenotypes are often cited desirable attributes of durable resistance in crops. Specific targets include: 1) defence signalling of recessive downy mildew resistance conferred by RPP27 (a receptor-like protein with a predicted extracellular leucine rich repeat domain) and RPP29 (a closely linked, genetic interactor of RPP27); 2) polygenic downy mildew resistance, targeting a major locus that spans three known R-genes; and, 3) potential rate reducing white rust resistance that disrupts reproduction of the causal parasite Albugo candida, and the parasites ability to suppress resistance to other pathogens. We will also initiate research of species level resistance in roots of Arabidopsis to Pythium (damping-off) isolates from non- crucifer hosts.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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