Molecular-genetic machanisms of resistance to broomrape in sunflower

Abstract

Sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) is an obligate parasitic plant that specifically infects sunflower and can cause significant yield losses. In this regard, obtaining sunflower varieties resistant to broomrape is an important task for agriculture. Sunflower breeding for resistance to broomrape was initiated in the beginning of the 20th century in USSR. However, the production of new resistant sunflower varieties was accompanied by the emergence of new virulent broomrape races that overcame the effect of resistance genes. For a number of sunflower genetic loci that determine resistance to broomrape, the location on the genetic map was determined, but only for some of them probable candidate genes were identified and the possible molecular mechanism of their action was described. In addition, transcriptomic data have recently been obtained for broomrape-resistant and susceptible sunflower varieties, which also makes it possible to get closer to understanding the molecular basis of resistance formation. This review focuses on molecular genetic mechanisms of sunflower resistance to broomrape, identified on the basis of genetic mapping of resistance loci, determination of probable candidate genes, as well as available transcriptomic data.