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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424244
Research Project: Genomic Mining of Sugar Beet Crop Wild Relative Germplasm Resources for New Sources of Disease Resistance

Location: Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research

Title: Subcellular localization and differential expression provide insights into the putative function of the nematode resistance gene Hs4

Author
item SCHILDBERG, ANNIKA - University Of Kiel
item Dorn, Kevin
item JUNG, CHRISTIAN - University Of Kiel

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2026
Publication Date: 2/28/2026
Citation: Schildberg, A., Dorn, K.M., Jung, C. 2026. Subcellular localization and differential expression provide insights into the putative function of the nematode resistance gene Hs4. Scientific Reports. 16. Article e7830. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40666-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40666-5

Interpretive Summary: Sugar beet is a critical crop that is the source of over half of domestic sugar production. Like all crops, sugar beet production is challenged by multiple pests and pathogens. For example, the sugar beet cyst nematode causes substantial yield loss in global sugar beet production, with US losses regularly totaling $4 million annually. Improving plant resistance to pests likes nematodes provides a vital tool for growers. One nematode resistance gene that provides strong resistance to nematodes, named Hs4, was recently identified from a wild relative of sugar beet. Scientists from USDA-ARS and the University of Kiel identified key genetic variation in this nematode resistance gene. The team also examined the gene expression levels of Hs4 and similar genes in sugar beet to identify that Hs4 is uniquely present in roots. These results will be useful for sugar beet breeders aiming to improve resistance to nematodes, and ultimately provide growers with strong plant resistance to this important pest.

Technical Abstract: Plant-parasitic nematodes are economically important threats to global crop production. The beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii) is a crucial pest in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). While all species of the genus Beta are highly susceptible, the three species of the beet wild relative genus Patellifolia are entirely resistant. Recently, we cloned the Hs4 gene from P. procumbens, which confers complete resistance. In this study, we aimed to determine whether putative Hs4 orthologs exist in Beta and Patellifolia species. Hs4 gene was found to consist of 4999 bp, with six exons and five introns. All Patellifolia species contained highly similar Hs4 homologs. Single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertions/deletions between the accessions and species could be detected. We found an exonic integration of three bases, resulting in the addition of one amino acid. Interestingly, this variant was present in single accessions of all three Patellifolia species. Beta vulgaris contains an Hs4 homolog (BvHs4) with 60% protein identity to Hs4. BvHs4 homologs were present in all Beta species analyzed. Further, we examined the expression patterns of Hs4 and BvHs4 homologs. While Hs4 homologs from Patellifolia species are strongly expressed in roots, BvHs4 homologs are expressed mainly in leaves. When the spatio-temporal expression of Hs4 was examined, no response to nematode inoculation was observed.