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Title: Allele mining in the gene pool of wild Solanum species for homologues of late blight resistance gene RB/Rpi-blb1

Author
item PANKIN, ARTEM - Russian Academy Of Sciences
item SOKOLOVA, E KATERINA - Russian Academy Of Sciences
item ROGOZINA, ELANA - Russian Academy Of Sciences
item KUZNETSORA, MARIA - Russian Institute Of Phytopathology
item Deahl, Kenneth
item Jones, Richard
item KHAVKIN, EMIL - Russian Academy Of Sciences

Submitted to: Plant Genetic Resources
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2011
Publication Date: 2/21/2011
Citation: Pankin, A., Sokolova, E., Rogozina, E., Kuznetsora, M., Deahl, K.L., Jones, R.W., Khavkin, E. 2011. Allele mining in the gene pool of wild Solanum species for homologues of late blight resistance gene RB/Rpi-blb1. Plant Genetic Resources. 9:305-308.

Interpretive Summary: Potato plants can be damaged or killed when they don’t recognize an attack by fungi. One way they recognize an attack is by having resistance (“R”) genes that alert the plant, and allow for a defensive response to invasion. Potatoes that have existed in the wild for a long time can have many R genes that provide protection to a wide range of invading organisms. Finding these genes in wild potato and using them in modern cultivated potatoes will be useful for ensuring a secure future for potato production, benefiting producers and consumers.

Technical Abstract: Solanum bulbocastanum comprising a CC-NBS-LRR gene RB/Rpi-blb1 confers broad-spectrum resistance to Phytophthora infestans and is currently employed in potato breeding for durable late blight (LB) resistance. Genomes of several Solanum species were reported to contain RB homologues with confirmed broad-spectrum defence function. With the discovery that novel Ph. infestans races break LB resistance mediated by the genes of broad-spectrum specificity, pyramiding several RB-like genes from various Solanum species in a single potato cultivar seems a promising approach to durable LB resistance. Here we report early evidence on RB-like sequences in the wide range of Solanum species section Petota. The panel of Solanum species was screened with three RB-related PCR markers. RB-like sequences were found in every tested Solanum accession suggesting universal distribution of RB structural homologues among Solanum genomes, while the marker RB-629 corresponding to the RB gene was found in 14 species. The phylogenetic analysis of RB-629 sequences suggested highly conservative pattern of polymorphisms that was neither species- nor series-specific. Apparently, duplication and evolution of RB-like loci preceded Solanum speciation. Marker presence and particular haplotypes were not immediately associated with high LB resistance.