Natural Genes and Mechanisms for Resistance to Viruses in Cultivated and Wild Potato Species (Solanum spp.)

The types of resistance to viruses in potato are immunity, extreme resistance coded for by the R genes and hypersensitivity coded for by the N genes. Immunity prevents the establishment of virus infection, whereas extreme resistance is expressed as an extremely low virus titre resulting from restricted virus multiplication or localization of virus infection in the plant without obvious necrotic reactions. Expression of the N genes can also lead to localization of the virus infection followed by necrosis at the infection site. Tolerance to virus infection and resistance to inoculation and virus vectors are useful components of field resistance. Virus or virus strain specific resistance genes have been identified in cultivated and wild potato species and transferred to cultivated potato. However, combining resistance to the three globally most important viruses PLRV, PVY and PVX has proved difficult, and new sources of broad spectrum resistance to viruses are required for potato breeding. New molecular techniques will enhance the isolation of the natural resistance genes and studies of gene regulation.     

Detection of Single‐feature Polymorphisms (SFPs) between two tomato varieties and their application in defining the introgressions of resistance loci

The objectives of the study were to (i) demonstrate that the hybridization data from microarrays can yield information on sequence variation between two inbred lines, an introgression line ‘Mogeor’ and its genetic background ‘Moneymaker’; (ii) characterize, by means of the identified SFPs, the introgressed genomic segments of ‘Mogeor’, carrying resistance genes; and (iii) deliver a set of genetically anchored SFPs potentially useful for breeding. In this work, the GeSNP software was used to identify SFPs in tomato using Affymetrix data from a previous experiment. Sequencing of 12 putative polymorphism‐containing amplicons yielded a SFP probe set validation rate of 90%. In total, 92 Gene Models putatively harbouring SFPs were identified, distributed as following: 61 Gene Models on chromosome 9, and one to eight on the remaining tomato chromosomes apart from chromosomes 7, 8 and 12. Newly discovered SFPs from microarray data can thus provide not only useful information for definition of introgressed genomic regions, but also identification of candidate genes and new markers for MAS.     

Inheritance and stability of the virus-resistant gene in the progeny of transgenic sweet potato

Viral diseases of sweet potato are very prevalent and often seriously damaging to the plants. In particular, the severe strain of the sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV‐S) causes ‘obizyo‐sohi’ disease in Japan. In order to confer viral resistance against SPFMV using current biotechnology, a transgenic sweet potato has been produced, introducing hygromycin‐resistant (hpt) and SPFMV‐S coat protein (CP) genes, which have shown a significant resistance to SPFMV‐S. In the breeding programme, it is important to confirm that the viral resistance conferred in T₀ plants can be inherited by their progeny. In the present study, progeny were obtained from crosses between the transgenic T₀ and a non‐transgenic variety of sweet potato. The results showed that the CP gene was inherited by the next generation and that the stability of viral resistance was also confirmed. Thus, this production system for the virus‐resistant transgenic sweet potato is useful in practical breeding.     

Marker‐assisted introgression of bacterial blight and blast resistance into IR 58025B,an elite maintainer line of rice

IR 58025A is a very popular wild‐abortive cytoplasmic male sterile (WA‐CMS) line of rice and is extensively used for hybrid rice breeding. However, IR 58025A and many hybrids derived from it possess mild aroma (undesirable in some parts of India) and are highly susceptible to bacterial blight (BB) and blast diseases. To improve IR 58025A for BB and blast resistance, we have introgressed a major dominant gene conferring resistance against BB (i.e. Xa21) and blast (i.e. Pi54) into IR 58025B, the maintainer line of IR 58025A. An introgression line of Samba Mahsuri (i.e. SM2154) possessing Xa21 and Pi54 genes in homozygous condition and fine‐grain type was used as donor parent, and backcross breeding strategy was adopted for targeted introgression of the resistance genes. PCR‐based molecular markers tightly linked to Xa21 and Pi54 were used for selection of BB‐ and blast‐resistant lines, while closely linked markers were used for identification of backcross‐derived plants devoid of Rf4 and aroma. At BC₂F₅, four backcross‐derived lines possessing resistance against BB and blast, devoid of aroma, high yield, short plant stature, long‐slender grain type and with recurrent parent genome recovery ranging from 88.8% to 98.6% were selected and advanced for further evaluation. The improved versions of IR 58025B, viz. SB54‐11‐143‐9‐44‐5, SB54‐11‐143‐9‐44‐98, SB54‐11‐143‐9‐44‐111 and SB54‐11‐143‐9‐44‐171, behaved as perfect maintainers when test‐crossed with WA‐CMS lines. Agronomically superior lines of improved IR 58025B are being converted to CMS line through backcrossing for developing high‐yielding and biotic stress‐resistant rice hybrids.     

Elucidation of virus-host interactions to enhance resistance breeding for control of virus diseases in potato

Potato virus Y (PVY) and Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) are viruses whose geographical distribution is expanding and economic losses are increasing, in contrast to most of other viruses infecting potato crops. Most potato cultivars lack broad-spectrum resistance to the new, genetically complex strains of PVY, and no efficient resistance to PMTV is known in potato. Control of the vectors of these viruses is not an efficient or possible strategy to prevent infections. Studies on molecular virus-host interactions can discover plant genes that are important to viral infection or antiviral defence. Both types of genes may be utilized in resistance breeding, which is discussed in this paper. The advanced gene technologies provide means to fortify potato cultivars with effective virus resistance genes or mutated, non-functional host factors that interfere with virus infection.     

Heritability of spotted wilt resistance in a Florida‐EP™ “113”‐derived peanut (Arachis hypogaea) population

Spotted wilt, caused by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), is a major disease of peanut (Arachis hypogaea ) in the south‐eastern United States. Cultivar resistance is the most important factor in disease control. However, spotted wilt resistance in current cultivars still carries risk in the absence of other practices when disease is severe. In contrast, a newly developed cultivar, Florida‐EP? “113,” has demonstrated excellent resistance even when spotted wilt is severe. Information on heritability of this resistance can help breeders better utilize it in breeding. F₂‐derived populations from the cross Florida‐EP? “113”/Georgia Valencia were developed and tested in field experiments in Florida from 2012 to 2014. Disease symptoms were evaluated visually, and the frequency of TSWV infection was measured by ImmunoStrip^®. Heritability estimated from ImmunoStrip^® was higher (0.66) compared to visual ratings (0.48). Genetic correlations among evaluation methods (r _A = 0.92–0.99) and environments (r _B = 0.86–0.99) were high. These results indicate that resistance in Florida‐EP? “113” is highly heritable and that selection in a high disease risk environment is feasible without significant erosion of genetic gain.     

Transgenic potato plants resistant to viruses

Summary Traditional potato breeding is a laborious process in which, by intercrossing, valuable traits from different parental clones are combined in a progeny genotype. Depending on the availability of genes, molecular techniques can be used to add specific genes to existing cultivars that, although otherwise satisfactory, lack a lew commercially important traits. For virus resistance the gene for the coat protein of a given virus transplanted into the genome of the plant renders the plant resistant to that virus. In conferring such resistance to potato varieties it proved to be possible to preserve their intrinsic properties.     

Early selection for extreme resistance to potato virus Y and tobacco etch virus in potato using a β-glucuronidase-tagged virus

The Ry_sto gene from Solanum stoloniferum introduced into potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L. ssp. tuberosum) confers resistance to potato virus A, potato virus V and potato virus Y (PVY). In addition to PVY, tobacco etch virus (TEV) and a TEV construct that encodes β‐glucuronidase (TEV‐GUS) were inoculated to determine the inheritance of resistance to these viruses in progenies obtained from potato cultivars containing the Ry_sto gene. While cultivars ‘Karlena’ and ‘Delikat’ were susceptible, ‘Bettina’ and clone 927eY were resistant to PVY, TEV and TEV‐GUS, as determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, biotest and GUS assay, respectively. The segregation ratios obtained from the progenies of ‘Bettina’בDelikat’ and 816eY בKarlena’ indicate that resistances to PVY and TEV are governed by one dominant gene or two genes tightly linked in coupling phase. Evidently, Ry_sto confers broad spectrum resistance to potyviruses. TEV resistance could be reliably detected 4 days after inoculation with the TEV‐GUS construct by GUS assay. Therefore, the GUS‐tagged TEV construct can be used for early selection for resistances based on the gene Ry_sto or closely linked genes.     

Phenotypic and marker‐assisted pyramiding of genes for resistance to zucchini yellow mosaic virus in oilseed pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo)

We report on the identification of phenotypic and molecular markers for genes introgressed into oilseed pumpkin Cucurbita pepo from C. moschata germplasm originating in Nigeria, Portugal and Puerto Rico, which provide resistance against zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) and on pyramiding these genes for improved and long‐lasting field protection of oilseed pumpkins. One SCAR and two SSR markers have been found for three dominant resistance genes, Zym‐0, Zym‐1 and Zym‐2. Characteristic reactions to ZYMV inoculation of plants carrying the recessive genes for resistance zym‐4* and zym‐6 have been defined. Described are procedures and results of pyramiding various combinations of these genes in oilseed pumpkin using the three markers and the specific phenotypic reactions to infection of some of these genes. The putative combination of all six resistance genes in one genotype resulted in a resistance that appeared to be at least as strong as or even stronger than that of the resistance source germplasm in C. moschata.     

A genome‐wide association study for partial resistance to southern corn rust in tropical maize

Southern corn rust (SCR) is a fungal disease found on corn in several countries worldwide. In Brazil, the disease can result in productivity losses of 65%, especially in areas with a history of the disease. In this study, the genetic architecture and identification of genomic regions associated with SCR resistance was investigated by performing a genome‐wide association study. Genotyping‐by‐sequencing was performed to carry out the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and phenotypic data from two environments on a panel of 164 maize inbred lines. Eight SNPs were identified as significant for SCR resistance. These SNPs were colocalized with QTL regions, some of which underlie candidate resistance genes with functions that play an important role in the stress response during pathogen recognition. These candidate genes, involved in plant defense pathways, could be associated with partial resistance to SCR and provide a partial comprehensive insight into the genetic architecture of this trait. After validation of the SNPs, they will be useful for marker–assisted selection and for a better understanding of maize resistance to SCR.     

Characterization of gene expression profiles in developing kernels of maize (Zea mays) inbred Tex6

Maize inbred Tex6 is resistant to several pests. The objectives of this study were to characterize gene expression profiles in Tex6 kernels and identify unique genes that expressed up‐ or down‐ward in developing kernels in the later stages. Because of the resistance of Tex6 kernels, we reasoned that it would be an interesting candidate for microarray study. By using maize microarray, we analysed gene expression profiles in developing kernels from 25 DAP (days after pollination) to 45 DAP. A total of 8497 positive array spots were detected with unique IDs, in which 4247 genes were detected in all samples. The trends of total expressed genes were decreasing when kernels were maturing. Expression patterns of some genes in several metabolic pathways, including starch, lipid and storage proteins, were analysed. In comparison with 25 DAP, expressions of 211 gene features were significantly different at 45 DAP (P < 0.05), which will be used to produce a macroarray for germplasm assessment and evaluation. The real‐time qRT‐PCR was used to validate microarray study.     

Overexpression of a small heat‐shock‐protein gene enhances tolerance to abiotic stresses in rice

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important crops in the world which survives from various abiotic stresses in natural environments with specific stress‐involved genes expressed. Plant sHSPs (small heat‐shock proteins) were reported to respond to abiotic stresses. To improve the understanding of sHSPs in rice, we characterized heat‐shock‐protein gene OsHSP18.6 here. OsHSP18.6 could be induced by diverse stresses, such as drought, salt and cold, especially under heat. The gene was found expressed in root, stem, leaf, internode and spikelet. Overexpression of OsHSP18.6 results in increased thermotolerance and exhibits universal tolerance to stresses tested, including heat, drought, salt and cold. Lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and greater activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were observed in OsHSP18.6‐overexpression rice under heat and drought. OsHSP18.6‐overexpression lines indicated decreased sterile rates under hot weather without remarkable changes in most of other agronomic traits compared with wild‐type plants.     

利用WGCNA鉴定非生物胁迫相关基因共表达网络

加权共表达网络分析(Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis, WGCNA)是用来描述不同样品之间基因关联模式的系统生物学方法,可以用来鉴定高度协同变化的基因集。本研究利用正常水稻组织共47份转录组数据,通过冷胁迫、干旱胁迫、盐胁迫不同的处理方式,使用WGCNA方法,根据已克隆基因的报道与以上3种胁迫相关的关键基因,探究不同逆境下基因之间的调控关系。通过对低表达量基因的过滤,最终利用筛选的30,339个表达的基因来构建共表达矩阵,得到15个模块。分析发现已知的水稻3种相关基因在各个模块均有存在,于是对预测到的靶基因进行GO富集分析。对3种胁迫下处理的转录组数据进行差异表达基因分析,结合已报道与胁迫相关的基因,选取各胁迫相关的2个模块进行了基因调控网络的构建。鉴于3种胁迫相关基因在green模块中大量分布,通过对green模块下各自特有的基因和共有的基因的GO功能富集分析,并对共有的基因构建调控网络,挖掘到2599个与3种胁迫都相关的基因,并预测出25个抗逆相关的关键基因,为水稻的抗逆及综合抗逆能力等研究提供了新思路。     

水分胁迫条件下“洛旱2号”小麦根系的基因表达谱

为探讨小麦水分胁迫反应的分子调控机制,以抗旱小麦品种“洛旱2号”根系为材料,采用Affymetrix小麦基因芯片比较了20% PEG6000溶液处理后根系及对照的基因表达谱。结果表明,洛旱2号根系中受水分胁迫诱导而上调和下调表达的基因分别有3 743个(4 074个探针组)和4 573个(5 043个探针组),下调表达的基因远远多于上调表达的基因,其中上调2倍以上的1 593个(1 716个探针组),下调2倍以上的2 238个(2 451个探针组)。通过Affymetrix 的NetAffx Analysis Center查询和NCBI的BLASTX分析,差异表达2倍以上的基因中有619个已注释了功能,利用MIPS数据库将注释基因分为10类,包括生物代谢、逆境胁迫反应、细胞组分生成、蛋白合成、细胞信号交流、细胞运输、转录相关、细胞分裂和蛋白质加工等。差异表达16倍以上的基因中有32个已注释了功能,其中与逆境胁迫反应相关的基因16个,与生物代谢相关的基因5个。利用实时定量RT-PCR对8个代表性候选基因在水分胁迫条件下的差异表达特性分析表明,其结果和芯片杂交分析的结果基本一致。     

Genetic analysis and identification of two soybean mosaic virus resistance genes in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr]

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) commonly affects soybean production worldwide, and the SC18 strain has been widespread in China. This study aimed to characterize and map the SC18 resistance genes present in soybean cultivars ‘Kefeng No. 1’ and ‘Qihuang 22’. Inheritance analysis revealed that two independent single dominant genes in Kefeng No. 1 and Qihuang 22 confer resistance to SC18. Using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and bulked segregant analysis, the Kefeng No. 1 and Qihuang 22 resistance genes were located on soybean chromosomes 2 and 13, respectively. We further screened two populations of recombinant inbred lines with 32 SSR markers in the target region, where the resistance gene in Kefeng No. 1 was fine mapped to an 80‐kb region containing six putative genes. Sequence and expression analyses of these genes revealed that SMV resistance in Kefeng No. 1 was probably attributable to three of the candidate genes (i.e. Glyma.02G127800, Glyma.02G128200 and Glyma.02G128300). Collectively, the results of this study will greatly facilitate the cloning of SC18 resistance genes and marker‐assisted breeding of SMV‐resistant soybean cultivars.     

Characterization of broad‐spectrum resistance to Soybean mosaic virus in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar ‘RN‐9’

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) can cause serious yield losses in soybean. Soybean cultivar ‘RN‐9’ is resistant to 15 of 21 SMV strains. To well‐characterize this invaluable broad‐spectrum SMV‐resistance, populations (F₁, F₂ and F_2:3) derived from resistant (R) × susceptible (S) and R × R crosses were tested for SMV‐SC18 resistance. Genetic analysis revealed that SC18 resistance in ‘RN‐9’ plus two elite SMV‐resistant genotypes (‘Qihuang No.1’ and ‘Kefeng No.1’) are controlled by independently single dominant genes. Linkage analysis showed that the resistance of ‘RN‐9’ to SMV strains SC10, SC14, SC15 and SC18 is controlled by more than one gene(s). Moreover, Rsc10‐r and Rsc18‐r were both positioned between the two simple sequence repeats markers Satt286 and Satt277, while Rsc14‐r was fine‐mapped in 136.8‐kb genomic region containing sixteen genes, flanked by BARCSOYSSR_06_0786 and BARCSOYSSR_06_0790 at genetic distances of 3.79 and 4.14 cM, respectively. Allelic sequence comparison showed that Cytochrome P450‐encoding genes (Glyma.06g176000 and Glyma.06g176100) likely confer the resistance to SC14 in ‘RN‐9’. Our results would facilitate the breeding of broad‐spectrum and durable SMV resistance in soybeans.     

普通小麦–簇毛麦种质对菲利普孢囊线虫的抗性分析

菲利普孢囊线虫(Heterodera filipjevi)是在我国新发现的一种小麦病原线虫, 已严重威胁我国小麦的安全生产。小麦近缘种属具有改良小麦所需的许多目标性状, 是丰富小麦遗传变异、选育抗病品种的重要基因资源。采用室内接种鉴定法, 从20份小麦近缘属种材料中发现簇毛麦(Dasypyrum villosum)高抗H. filipjevi。分别对3套普通小麦–簇毛麦染色体附加系和6VS易位系进行接虫抗性鉴定, 结果6V染色体附加系高抗H. filipjevi;含6VS的易位系则表现感病。据此推测, 簇毛麦6V染色体上可能含有抗H. filipjevi基因, 且可能位于6VL上。