Molecular isolation of two cyst nematode resistance genes: the Hs1P ro-1 gene of beet and the GPA2 gene of potato

Abstract

Nematodes cause an estimated loss of approx. $100 billion per year in agriculture. Economically most important are sedentary nematodes of the genera Heterodera, Globodera and Meloidogyne that become permanently fixed in host roots after inducing specific feeding structures. The beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii has a broad host range that includes many species from different plant families such as Chenopodiaceae and Brassicaceae. The potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida cause large losses in potato-growing areas world-wide. Root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are much more polyphagous and infect thousands of plant species and cause severe yield losses in many crops throughout the world. Environmental concerns restrict the application of nematicides. The current measures of control include crop rotations or growing catch crops. However the most promising strategy is the breeding for nematode resistant crops. Genes conferring resistance towards beet cyst and potato cyst nematodes are present in related wild species such as Beta procumbens and Solanum tuberosum spp. andigena. Recently, in cooperation with two other research groups, we succeeded in cloning the HslP ro1 gene. This gene confers resistance to the beet cyst nematode in hairy roots of sugar beet In cooperation with the Wageningen University we also work on the isolation of the GPA2 gene present in S. tuberosum spp. andigena. This gene confers resistance to a distinct population of the potato cyst nematode species G pallida. Results on the analysis of the functionality of the HslPro1 gene in sugar beet and other plant species will be discussed. In addition our progression in cloning of the GPA2 gene will be reported