Modelling multigenic resistance to potato cyst nematodes

After making simplifying assumptions, the ability of female potato cyst nematodes to develop and reproduce is modelled by expressions of the type i_x·x and i_x·(1 - x), where x is the frequency within a population of females able to circumvent the effects of a real resistance gene. Such females are potentially able to develop to maturity and reproduce to maximum capacity. For this class of females i_x= 1, i.e. they are unaffected by the resistance gene. The frequency of other classes of females is given by (1 - x) and for them i_x ranges in value from just less than 1 to 0 according to the effectiveness of the gene. When i_x approaches 0, females in these classes are eliminated and the gene responsible is said to be a ‘major’ resistance gene. For values of i_x greater than 0, the genes responsible are called ‘minor’ genes. If full reproductive power is 1, then the total reproductive power in the presence of the resistance gene is [x+i_x(1 - x)] or when several genes are present by [x+i_x(1 - x)]·[y+i_y(1 - y)]·[z+i_z(1 - z)] etc. That is, the effects of these genes depend on the frequencies of females able to reproduce in their presence and on the effectiveness of the different genes as measured by i. Furthermore, ‘major’ and ‘minor’ genes are part of a continuum described by i. The model is used to illustrate the effects of combining ‘major’ and ‘minor’ genes and the effects of some arbitrary combinations are calculated. Data with which to test the model are sparse but what little there is tends to support it. Interactions between resistance genes, the fitness of females, the selection of males and the effects of resistant cultivars on populations are discussed. Selection by resistant potato hybrids in pots is surprisingly rapid and sometimes becomes evident after only five generations. Ways in which resistant cultivars might be used to prolong the useful life of resistant cultivars are briefly discussed.     

Activity of adjuvants in ‘aliette’ against Botryotinia fuckeliana (botrytis cinered) and their cross-resistance with benzimidazole fungicides

‘Aliette’, a formulation of the fungicide fosetyl-aluminium, is moderately active in vitro against the ascomycete Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea). In contrast, fosetyl-aluminium and related chemicals, such as phosphonic acid and sodium phosphonate, have low efficacy, although it is enhanced by media with low phosphate content. This indicates that the effectiveness of ‘Aliette’ against B. fuckeliana is not due to fosetyl-aluminium but to adjuvants included in the formulation. The genetic basis of differences in sensitivity to ‘Aliette’ was investigated in field and laboratory isolates of B. fuckeliana. Genetic analysis showed that reduced sensitivity to ‘Aliette’ always co-segregated with resistance to benzimidazole fungicides in meiotic progeny of sexual crosses. This indicates that differences in sensitivity to ‘Aliette’ in B. fuckeliana are due to the major gene Mbcl of resistance to benzimidazole fungicides and active adjuvant(s) present in ‘Aliette’ are linked to benzimidazoles by cross-resistance.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">cyv-2</Emphasis> resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clover yellow vein virus</Emphasis> in pea is controlled by the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E

The same mutant allele of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) that confers resistance to Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (sbm-1) and the white lupine strain of Bean yellow mosaic virus (wlv) also confers resistance to Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV) in pea. The eIF4E genes from several pea lines were isolated and sequenced. Analysis of the eIF4E amino acid sequences from several resistant lines revealed that some lines, including PI 378159, have the same sequence as reported for sbm-1 and wlv. When eIF4E from a susceptible pea line was expressed from a ClYVV vector after mechanical inoculation of resistant PI 378159, the virus caused systemic infection, similar to its effects in susceptible line PI 250438. The resistance to ClYVV in line PI 378159 was characterized through a cross with PI 193835, which reportedly carries cyv-2. Mechanical inoculation of the F1 progeny with ClYVV resulted in no infection, indicating that the resistance gene in PI 378159 is identical to cyv-2 in PI 193835. Furthermore, particle bombardment of pea line PI 193835 with infectious cDNA of ClYVV (pClYVV/C3-S65T) resulted in the same resistance mode as that described for PI 378159. These results demonstrate that the resistance to ClYVV conferred by cyv-2 is mediated by eIF4E and that cyv-2 is identical to sbm-1 and wlv.     

Relationship between Avirulence Genes of the Same Family in Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe grisea

A genetic cross between rice-field isolates of Magnaporthe grisea produced progeny segregating for avirulence/ virulence on six rice cultivars among nine race differentials, while on three other cultivars, Shin 2 (Pik-s), Aichi Asahi (Pia) and Ishikari Shiroke (Pii), parental and progeny isolates were all virulent. Based on segregation ratios in 115 progeny isolates, avirulence on Kanto 51 (Pik), Yashiro-mochi (Pita), Fukunishiki (Piz) and Toride 1 (Piz-t) is under monogenic control. On Tsuyuake (Pik-m) and Pi No. 4 (Pita-2), however, a disproportionate ratio in the segregation was observed, suggesting that avirulence on these two cultivars is controlled by two or more genes. Assuming that the avirulence gene AvrPik-m consists of at least two genes, AvrPik-m1 and AvrPik-m2, each of which functions in the whole gene AvrPik-m, and that one of AvrPik-m1 and AvrPik-m2 is AvrPik, we could account for the disproportion in the avirulence/virulence segregation of the progeny. This hypothesis would also be consistently applied for avirulence gene AvrPita-2. There seem to be two types of the avirulence genes : AvrPik-m, that is comprised of the tightly linked genes, AvrPik-ml (=AvrPik) and AvrPik-m2, and AvrPita-2, that is comprised of the loosely linked genes AvrPita-2A (=AvrPita) and AvrPita-2B. As one possible explanation of the rice resistant reaction to blast, multiple specificity was suggested for the first time for the blast fungus. On the contrary, the avirulence genes AvrPiz and AvrPiz-t were inherited independently, despite the corresponding genes for resistance (Piz and Piz-t) being located at the same locus. The cross of rice blast isolates (races 447 and 337) produced only 25 kinds of races in the progeny, although theoretically about 64 kinds of races should be produced if six avirulence genes segregated independently. Because no progeny are with AvrPik (or AvrPita) and without AvrPik-m (or AvrPita-2), the number of races theoretically should be 36 at most. A number of strains, such as races 377 and 737, with a single avirulence gene were obtained from this cross. These strains may be valuable for analysis of resistance genes in rice plant. Received 19 August 2002/ Accepted in revised form 11 November 2002     

Present state and prospects of breeding for resistance or immunity to barley yellow mosaic virus1

The BaYMV resistance of German cultivars like Diana, Franka, Gloria or Sonate is due to one recessive gene (‘German gene’), located on barley chromosome 3. This gene and the gene Ym1 are most probably allelic (or tightly linked). Resistance of the American cv. Anson barley is inherited independently of the ‘German gene’ and Ym1. The haploidy technique is an efficient means for approaching major breeding goals: (1) to improve quality characteristics of cultivars carrying‘German resistance' (2) to adapt exotic germplasm carrying the gene Yml to European growing conditions; (3) to broaden the genetic base of BaYMV resistance by incorporating additional ‘new’ resistance genes.     

Turnip mosaic virus induces expression of the LRR II subfamily genes and regulates the salicylic acid signaling pathway in non-heading Chinese cabbage

In order to study the defense response to turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection in non-heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis Makino), we cloned the LRR II subfamily genes which comprises six members. They were high homologous to the function-known LRR II genes of Arabidopsis. We investigated their expression through quantitative real-time PCR analysis. TuMV infection induced the expression of these genes locally and systematically, and regulated the endogenous accumulation of salicylic acid (SA). Exogenous SA spraying was able to induce resistance to the susceptibility of the TuMV-infected plants, which might function via inhibiting the viral duplication. Though TuMV-induced SA accumulation was not the determinant in regulating gene expression, it mediated the reaction oxygen species (ROS) burst as a channel of defense.     

Identification of avirulence genes in the rice blast fungus corresponding to three resistance genes in Japanese differentials

The pathogenicity of progeny from crosses among three Chinese isolates of Magnaporthe grisea collected from rice was tested on three Japanese differentials (Ishikarishiroke, Aichiasahi, K 59) having the blast resistance genes Pii, Pia, and Pit, respectively. Monogenic control was demonstrated for avirulence to the differentials. To identify resistance genes corresponding to the avirulence genes, the resistance and susceptibility in F₃ lines of the cultivars in response to the parents of the crosses were analyzed genetically. The three avirulence genes identified, designated Avr-Pii, Avr-Pia, and Avr-Pit, appear to correspond to resistance genes Pii, Pia, and Pit, respectively. The monogenic control of avirulence in the fungus and monogenic dominant resistance in rice cultivars supports a gene-for-gene relation in the Pii-, Pia-, or Pit-dependent resistance to the rice blast fungus in rice cultivars.     

Characterization of the defence response to Venturia inaequalis in ‘Honeycrisp’ apple,its ancestors,and progeny

The apple cultivar Honeycrisp exhibits genetic resistance to apple scab. The characterization of the macroscopic and microscopic responses on leaves infected by the pathogen Venturia inaequalis is described. The macroscopic resistance reactions observed in ‘Honeycrisp’, its parent ‘Keepsake’, and grandparents ‘Frostbite’ and ‘Northern Spy’ ranged from 0 (no reaction) to chlorotic flecking, stellate chlorosis, necrotic flecking, and sporulation. No hypersensitive response was observed. The resistance response occurred as early as 7 days post inoculation (dpi) at the same time that susceptible plants exhibited macroscopic signs of the disease. The resistance reactions were similar in the progeny population of ‘Honeycrisp’ × ‘Twin Bee Gala’, although they were delayed to 10–14 dpi possibly due to variable greenhouse conditions. This population segregated 3 resistant:1 susceptible, which suggests the presence of two genes in ‘Honeycrisp’ and agrees with the finding that different responses within ‘Honeycrisp’ to mixed inoculum are due to differential recognition of pathogen effectors.     

Cytochrome P-based resistance mechanism and pyrethroid resistance in the field Anopheles albimanus resistance management trial

The relative rates of cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ selection in southern Mexican Anopheles albimanus populations were investigated during a 3 years indoor residual house spraying intervention with a pyrethroid (PYR) or DDT, a mosaic of organophosphate (OP)-PYR, and the annual rotation of OP-PYR-carbamate (CARB). This insecticide resistance mechanism, initially evenly spread in the mosquito population, correlated with PYR resistance during the second treated year, when cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ contents increased in most villages of the PYR, rotation and mosaic schemes. However, by the third year, mean cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ contents declined to susceptible levels in mosquitoes of the rotation and one mosaic group but not in the PYR-treated villages. In DDT-treated villages, a continuous decrement of cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ levels occurred since the first treatment year, and susceptible levels were observed at the end of the intervention. Most correlations of cytochrome P⁴⁵⁰ levels and PYR resistance were lost during the third year, indicating that another mechanism evolved in resistant mosquito populations.     

Effect of rotation of canola (Brassica napus) cultivars with different complements of blackleg resistance genes on disease severity

Blackleg disease (phoma stem canker) caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans is a major disease of canola (oilseed rape, Brassica napus) worldwide. Canola plants in pots were exposed to blackleg‐infested stubble of canola with different complements of resistance genes and then assessed for disease. Plant mortality was reduced when plants were exposed to stubble from a cultivar with a different complement of resistance genes compared to stubble of a cultivar with the same resistance gene. These findings were consistent with 7 years of field surveys, which showed that changes in selection pressure as a result of extensive sowing of cultivars with major‐gene resistance, termed ‘sylvestris resistance’, dramatically influenced the frequency of virulent isolates in the population towards particular resistance genes, and therefore disease severity. All these data were supported by PCR‐genotyping surveys of fungal populations whereby the frequency of virulence alleles of avirulence genes AvrLm1 and AvrLm4 changed significantly depending on the resistance gene present in the cultivar from which the isolates were cultured. This is the first example of a study showing that sowing of canola cultivars with different complements of resistance genes in subsequent years, i.e. rotation of resistance genes, minimizes disease pressure by manipulating fungal populations. This approach provides a valuable disease management strategy for canola growers and is likely to be applicable to other plant diseases.     

Resistance to a highly aggressive isolate of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in a Brassica napus diversity set

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) of oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a serious problem in the UK and worldwide. As fungicide‐based control approaches are not always reliable, identifying host resistance is a desirable and sustainable approach to disease management. This research initially examined the aggressiveness of 18 Sclerotinia isolates (17 S. sclerotiorum, one S. subarctica) on cultivated representatives of B. rapa, B. oleracea and B. napus using a young plant test. Significant differences were observed between isolates and susceptibility of the brassica crop types, with B. rapa being the most susceptible. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates from crop hosts were more aggressive than those from wild buttercup (Ranunculus acris). Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolates P7 (pea) and DG4 (buttercup), identified as ‘aggressive’ and ‘weakly aggressive’, respectively, were used to screen 96 B. napus lines for SSR resistance in a young plant test. A subset of 20 lines was further evaluated using the same test and also in a stem inoculation test on flowering plants. A high level of SSR resistance was observed for five lines and, although there was some variability between tests, one winter OSR (line 3, Czech Republic) and one rape kale (line 83, UK) demonstrated consistent resistance. Additionally, one swede (line 69, Norway) showed an outstanding level of resistance in the stem test. Resistant lines also had fewer sclerotia forming in stems. New pre‐breeding material for the production of SSR resistant OSR cultivars relevant to conditions in the UK and Europe has therefore been identified.     

Genetics of resistance to Phytophthora capsici in the Mexican pepper‘Line 291

In order to establish a genetic model of the resistance to Phytophthora cupsici in Capsicum annuum genotype‘Line 29′, three experiments were conducted which included, as well as‘Line 29′, the susceptible genotype‘Morron INIA 224’and several of its F₁, F₂, F₃ and backcrosses. Plants with 4–6 leaves were inoculated by irrigating the culture substrate with a zoospore suspension of isolate B 1. The F² test was applied to the segregating generations to test whether there were one, two, three or four genes involved in the resistance. Additivity and equal weight of all the genes in the final effect were assumed. The hypothesis that best explained the results obtained was the one that assumed three genes in‘Line 29′; at least four alleles had to be present in any genotype for it to behave as resistant. The possible influence of isolate aggressiveness and inoculation method on the results is discussed.     

Susceptibility of wild carrot (Daucus carota ssp. carota) to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia soft rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a severe disease of cultivated carrots (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) in storage. It is not known whether Sclerotinia soft rot also affects wild carrots (D. carota ssp. carota), which hybridise and exchange genes, among them resistance genes, with the cultivated carrot. We investigated the susceptibility of wild carrots to S. sclerotiorum isolates from cultivated carrot under controlled and outdoor conditions. Inoculated roots from both wild and cultivated plants produced sclerotia and soft rot in a growth chamber test. Two isolates differed significantly in the ability to produce lesions and sclerotia on roots of both wild carrots and cv. Bolero. Flowering stems of wild carrots produced dry, pale lesions after inoculation with the pathogen, and above-ground plant weight was significantly reduced 4 weeks after inoculation in a greenhouse test. Wild and cultivar rosette plants died earlier and fewer plants survived when inoculated with the pathogen under outdoor test conditions. Cultivar plants died earlier than wild plants, but survived as frequently. Plants inoculated in the crown died earlier and at a lower frequency than plants inoculated on leaves. Wild carrots may thus serve as a host of S. sclerotiorum and thus eventually benefit from any uptake of resistance genes, among them transgenes, via introgression from cultivated carrots.     

Plant Resistance Genes: Their Structure, Function and Evolution

Plants have developed efficient mechanisms to avoid infection or to mount responses that render them resistant upon attack by a pathogen. One of the best-studied defence mechanisms is based on gene-for-gene resistance through which plants, harbouring specific resistance (R) genes, specifically recognise pathogens carrying matching avirulence (Avr) genes. Here a review of the R genes that have been cloned is given. Although in most cases it is not clear how R gene encoded proteins initiate pathways leading to disease resistance, we will show that there are clear parallels with disease prevention in animal systems. Furthermore, some evolutionary mechanisms acting on R genes to create novel recognitional specificities will be discussed.     

小麦籽粒水分含量变化对小麦品种抗虫性的影响

为探讨小麦含水量对近年新推广种植小麦品种抗虫性的影响,本研究选用河南、山东等省种植较广泛的6个小麦品种‘矮抗58’、‘西农979’、‘良星66’、‘济麦22’、‘泛麦8号’和‘郑麦7698’,检测了水分含量分别为11.50%、12.50%和13.50%时,小麦籽粒中米象子代成虫数量、由卵至成虫的平均发育历期,以及小麦对米象的敏感系数(SI)。结果表明,小麦含水量为13.50%、12.50%和11.50%时,供试小麦中出现子代成虫数量最多的相应为‘郑麦7698’(85.67头)、‘良星66’(45.67头)和‘济麦22’(17.67头)。同一小麦品种中,由米象卵至子代成虫的平均发育历期均在水分含量为11.50%时最长,13.50%时最短。在3种含水量下,米象平均发育历期最长为44.77d(‘泛麦8号’),最短为32.77d(‘郑麦7698’)。含水量为11.50%、12.5%和13.5%时,对米象的敏感系数(SI)最小的分别为‘良星66’(0.54)、‘郑麦7698’(7.76)和‘济麦22’(8.47)。结果表明:小麦籽粒含水量相同时不同品种对米象的抗虫性差异显著。同一品种小麦籽粒含水量从13.50%降低至11.50%时,米象子代成虫数量和SI减小、卵至成虫平均发育历期延长,小麦籽粒含水量对抗虫性的影响大于小麦品种的影响。     

毁灭炭疽菌Colletotrichum destructivum诱抗蛋白对烟草抗病性的诱导

为明确毁灭炭疽菌Colletotrichum destructivum诱抗蛋白诱导烟草的抗病性及其作用,采用喷雾、摩擦接种方法及RT-PCR技术研究了诱抗蛋白的预防保护作用,以及烟草悬浮细胞经诱导后过氧化物酶(POD)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性及脯氨酸(Pro)含量和病程相关基因表达的变化。结果表明,接种3、5和7 d后,该诱抗蛋白对烟草炭疽病的诱抗效果分别为58.00%、48.99%和49.65%,对烟草白粉病的诱抗效果分别为83.26%、80.76%和78.60%,并可以抑制烟草普通花叶病毒的复制及在寄主体内的扩增;经诱抗蛋白处理后,烟草悬浮细胞POD、PPO、PAL活性及Pro含量明显提高;诱抗蛋白能够诱导烟草病程相关蛋白基因PR-1a、PR-1b以及抗病信号传导途径关键基因NPR1的表达。表明毁灭炭疽菌诱抗蛋白可诱导烟草产生抗病性,可能与烟草悬浮细胞中POD、PAL、PPO的活性及Pro的含量提高以及相关病程基因表达有关。     

Genetics of responses to morpholine-type fungicides and of avirulences inErysiphe graminis f. sp.hordei

The genetics of the responses of the barley powdery mildew pathogen,Erysiphe graminis f.sp.hordei, to three morpholine-type fungicides were studied. Resistances to a phenylpropylamine fungicide, fenpropidin, and to a morpholine, fenpropimorph, co-segregated in crosses of a sensitive isolate, DH14, with each of two resistant ones, CC151 and CC152. In the cross CC151×DH14, the results were consistent with resistance to both fungicides being controlled by a single gene, at a locus namedFenl. In the other cross, CC152×DH14, the genetics of resistance were more complicated; the data were consistent with the segregation of two complementary, unlinked genes which each conferred resistance to both fungicides. Fenpropidin-resistant progeny of CC151×DH14 were significantly more resistant to fenpropimorph than were fenpropidin-resistant progeny of CCI 52×DH14, although the resistant progeny of the two crosses did not differ significantly in their level of fenpropidin resistance. Fenpropidin-resistant progeny of CC151×DH14 were significantly more resistant to another morpholine, tridemorph, than were fenpropidin-sensitive progeny, but this was not the case for CC152×DH14. Resistance to triadimenol, a C14 demethylation-inhibitor (DMI) fungicide, segregated in both crosses. Triadimenol resistance appeared to be controlled by one gene in each cross and was not associated with morpholine resistance. CC151×DH14 also segregated for eight avirulence genes. Two of these matched theMla6 resistance, while one gene matched a previously unknown resistance in a Pallas near-isogenic line, P17, which also carries a known resistance gene,Mlk. Fenl was not significantly linked to the triadimenol resistance gene,Tdl(a), or to any of the eight avirulence genes.Avr _a6 1, Avr _a12 ,Avr _La ,Avr _p17 andTdl(a) were linked, as wereAvr _a 10 andAvr _k .Abbreviations ED₅₀ median effective dose - Fpd fenpropidin - Fpm fenpropimorph - PCA principal components analysis - Tdm tridemorph     

Genetics of Heliothis and Helicoverpa resistance to chemical insecticides and to Bacillus thuringiensis

Genetic linkage maps of Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa armigera are being used to identify and characterize resistance-conferring genes. The insensitive acetylcholinesterase conferring resistance to organophosphorus insecticides and the insensitive sodium channel conferring resistance to pyrethroids have both been mapped in H. virescens. The linkage mapping approach permits a genetic dissection of resistance, even when the mode of action and lethal target are not precisely known, such as for the insecticidal toxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). We have identified and mapped a major Bt-resistance locus in a strain of H. virescens exhibiting up to 10000-fold resistance to Cry1Ac toxin and are currently developing a linkage map for H. armigera with a set of ‘anchor’ loci to facilitate comparison with H. virescens. Both species are currently experiencing their first significant selective pressure in the field by transgenic cotton expressing Cry1Ac, and timely identification of resistance mechanisms and their underlying genetic basis will be essential in successfully managing the Bt resistance that will eventually appear. ©1997 SCI