Abstract: Sterility mosaic disease (SMD), considered as the "green plague of pigeonpea" and caused by pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV) is one of the major biotic factors, which leads to heavy yield losses and hence poses a big challenge for pigeonpea production in the Indian subcontinent. Variability in the sterility mosaic pathogen revealed the occurrence of five different isolates in India. Among them, three distinct SMD isolates have been characterized, viz., Patancheru, Bangalore and Coimbatore. Molecular tools offer a viable option to tackle these biotic stresses via identification of the genomic regions associated with the trait such as SMD resistance. With an aim of identifying the gene(s)/QTLs linked with SMD resistance, two F2 populations, i.e. ICP 8863 × ICPL 20097 (segregating for Patancheru SMD isolate) and TTB 7 × ICP 7035 (segregating for both Patancheru and Bangalore SMD isolates) were developed and F2:3 families were phenotyped for resistance to respective isolate(s) of SMD. After screening over 3000 SSR markers on parental genotypes of each mapping population, intra-specific genetic maps comprising of 11 linkage groups and 120 and 78 SSR loci were developed for ICP 8863 × ICPL 20097 and TTB 7 × ICP 7035 populations, respectively. Composite interval mapping (CIM) based QTL analysis by using genetic mapping and phenotyping data provided four QTLs for Patancheru SMD isolate and two QTLs for Bangalore SMD isolate. Identification of different QTLs for resistance to Patancheru and Bangalore SMD isolates is an indication of involvement of different genes conferring the resistance to these two SMD isolates. One QTL namely qSMD4 identified within an interval of 2.8 cM on LG 7 explaining 24.72% of phenotypic variance, once it is validated in other genetic background, seems to be a promising QTL for use in marker assisted selection. In summary, this is the first study on development of intra-specific genetic maps and identification of QTLs for SMD resistance in pigeonpea.
Abstract: Plants use an intricate defense system against pests and pathogens, including the production of low molecular mass secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity, which are synthesized de novo after stress and are collectively known as phytoalexins. In this review, we focus on the biosynthesis and regulation of camalexin, and its role in plant defense. In addition, we detail some of the phytoalexins produced by a range of crop plants from Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Vitaceae and Poaceae. This includes the very recently identified kauralexins and zealexins produced by maize, and the biosynthesis and regulation of phytoalexins produced by rice. Molecular approaches are helping to unravel some of the mechanisms and reveal the complexity of these bioactive compounds, including phytoalexin action and metabolism.
Abstract: A set of nine short sequence repeat (SSR) loci was used for the molecular characterization of 32 accessions of 15 chestnut trees selected in the field because of their putative resistance to the ink disease caused by Phytophthora spp. The goal of the present study was to determine the genetic identity of those selected European chestnut trees (Castanea sativa) or interspecific hybrids, considering that hybridization programs between European chestnut and Asiatic species (mainly Japanese chestnut, Castanea crenata) have been carried out in Galicia (Spain) since the early 20th century. The results showed that the analyzed SSR loci were useful to discriminate three Asiatic and the European species of Castanea. The joint information provided by a factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) and the presence of privative alleles allowed the putative molecular assignment of the selected plants to a certain identity. Most of them were determined as hybrids between C. crenata and C. sativa. The individuals coded C036 and C048 were assigned, with a high probability, to C. sativa due to their clustering with accessions of this species and because they had a number of privative alleles of this species. Only a few individuals could not be assigned to any particular genotype.
Abstract: Cultivated potato with high level of horizontal resistance against late blight is one of the most important goals of potato breeding. The recurrent selection has been adopted to increase the level of potato horizontal resistance and a B3C1 population without R1-R11 dominant genes has been released by the International Potato Center at the short-day condition of Peru. The present research was carried out to further improve the resistance and the agronomic traits of B3C1 population under long-day condition of Hubei, China, with maximized retention of its genetic diversity. Twenty-seven individual clones of B3C1 were used to generate population B3C2 by in-population crossing with the bulk pollens aiming to elevate the frequency of late blight resistance genotypes and to improve the adaptation to local long-day conditions. The late blight resistance and the main agronomic traits including the maturity, the plant characters and the tuber traits were evaluated for the foreground selection in three years, by which 130 pedigrees were maintained as the basic population of B3C2 for further selection. A total of 312 polymorphic loci detected by 9 AFLP marker combinations were used to monitor the genetic diversity of the populations for the background selection. The B3C2 population of 51 clones was finally selected, of which the frequency of resistant genotypes increased by 23.8% points and the genetic diversity was maintained by about 96% as referred to B3C1. Our results strongly suggested that combination of the foreground selection for target traits and the background selection for the genetic diversity is an efficient strategy in the recurrent selection of tetraploid potato to improve quantitative traits.
Abstract: Soybean root and stem rot caused by Phytophthora sojae is a destructive disease worldwide. Using genetic resistance is an important and major component in the integrated pest management of this disease. To understand molecular mechanisms of root and stem rot resistance in soybeans, the gene and protein expression in hypocotyls and stems of variety Suinong 10 carrying resistance genes Rps1a and Rps2 was investigated by using mRNA differential display reverse transcription PCR and two-dimensional electrophoresis at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after inoculation with P. sojae race 1. The results of the comparison of gene and protein expression showed that at least eight differential fragments at the transcriptional level were related to metabolic pathway, phytoalexin, and signal transduction in defense responses. Sequence analyses indicated that these fragments represented cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase gene, ATP ? gene coding ATP synthase ? subunit and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme gene which upregulated at 0.5 h post inoculation, blue copper protein gene and UDP-N-acetyl-?-D-galactosamine gene which upregulated at 2 h post inoculation, TGA-type basic leucine zipper protein TGA1.1 gene, cyclophilin gene, and 14-3-3 protein gene which upregulated at 4 h post inoculation. Three resistance-related proteins, ?-subunit and ?-subunit of ATP synthase, and cytochrome P450-like protein, were upregulated at 2 h post inoculation. The results suggested that resistance-related multiple proteins and genes were expressed in the recognition between soybean and P. sojae during zoospore germination, penetration and mycelium growth of P. sojae in soybean.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to establish a set of differential strains and to identify soybean resistant genes to Phytophthora root rot and then to apply those strains for analysis of the resistant genes Rps1a, Rps1c, and Rps1k that soybean cultivars or lines may carry. Virulence formula of 125 Phytophthora sojae isolates were determined using the hypocotyls inoculation technique, the strains, which includ 6 isolates with different virulence formulas, were applied to identify the resistance of 55 soybean cultivars or lines and resistant genes were analyzed using the gene postulating procedure. Eighteen reaction types occurred in 55 cultivars or lines and results of gene postulation indicated that 2 cultivars or lines probably carried gene Rps1c and no cultivar may carry genes Rps1a or Rps1k. A few of soybean cultivars or lines from Huanghuai Region carry Rps genes Rps1a, Rps1c and Rps1k and tend to infect by P. sojae, so resistant cultivars or lines need to be bred and popularized actively.
Abstract: The oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, is the causal agent of potato late blight, which is one of the most destructive and economically important plant diseases. We investigated the interaction between P. infestans and Solanaceous model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Mature N. benthamiana plants were resistant to 8 isolates of P. infestans, whereas relatively young plants were susceptible to all isolates. Analysis with virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) indicated that NbSGT1 and NbHSP90, genes essential for the function of R proteins, are required for the resistance of N. benthamiana to P. infestans. NbSGT1 was also required for the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypersensitive cell death and expression of NbEAS, a gene for phytoalexin biosynthesis, induced by INF1, a secretory protein derived from P. infestans. These results suggested that N. benthamiana possibly possesses a broad-spectrum R protein against P. infestans, which requires an SGT1/HSP90-dependent mechanism, for the recognition of a conserved molecular pattern of P. infestans.
Abstract: Nonhost resistance (NHR), in which a successful pathogen on some plants fails to overcome host barriers on others, has attracted much attention owing to its potential for robust crop improvement. Recent advances reveal that a multitude of underlying mechanisms contribute to NHR, ranging from components shared with recognition-based defenses up to recessive susceptibility factors involved in plant primary metabolism. Most NHR appears multi-factorial and quantitative. This implies that there is no single, ?silver bullet? NHR mechanism that can be used to broadly restrict pathogens in many or all crops.
Abstract: Phytophtora crown- and root- rot is one of the important soil-borne diseases of strawberry grown in hydroponic culture. Plant roots affected by root and crown rot show yellowish and decline symptoms and the plant perishes and dies gradually. To identify the factor responsible for strawberry crown rot, some samples were taken from infected plants. The samples were washed with tap water for 1-2 hr, blotted dry and plated on CMA. Phytophtora fungus was separated from infected tissue. Based on morphological characteristics and temperature requirement, the pathogen was identified as Phytophthora cactorum. Comparison of crown and root colonization and percent of dead seedlings showed that Selva, Aliso and Gavita cultivars had the most and the least resistance, respectively, but Kameroseh showed immune response to Phytophthora cactorum.
Abstract: Phytophthora root rot has been causing a serious yield loss in pepper production. Since 2004, the year in which commercial cultivars resistant to the disease were firstly commercialized, it has been necessary to introduce the resistance into domestic pepper cultivars for dried red pepper. Therefore, developing molecular markers linked to the resistance is required for an accurate selection of resistant plants and increasing breeding efficiency. Until now, several markers associated with the major dominant gene resistant to Phytophthora root rot have been reported but they have some serious limitations for their usage. In this study, we aimed to develop molecular markers linked to the major dominant gene that can be used for almost of all genetic resources resistant to Phytophthora root rot. Two segregating F2 populations derived from a 'Subicho' × 'CM334' combination and a commercial cultivar 'Dokyacheongcheong' were used to develop molecular markers associated with the resistance. After screening 1,024 AFLP primer combinations with bulked segregant analysis, three AFLP (AFLP1, AFLP2, and AFLP3) markers were identified and converted into three CAPS markers (MI-CAPS, M2-CAPS, and M3-CAPS), respectively. Among them, M3-CAPS marker was further studied in ten resistants, fourteen susceptibles, five hybrids and 53 commercial cultivars. As a result, M3-CAPS marker was more fitted to identify Phytophthora resistance than previously reported P5-SNAP and Phyto5.2-SCAR markers. The result indicated that the M3-CAPS marker will be useful for resistance breeding to Phytophthora root rot in chili pepper.
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