Abstract
SummaryFollowing the molecular characterisation of functional disease resistance genes in recent years, methods to track and verify the integrity of multiple genes in varieties are needed for crop improvement through resistance stacking. Diagnostic resistance gene enrichment sequencing (dRenSeq) enables the high‐confidence identification and complete sequence validation of known functional resistance genes in crops. As demonstrated for tetraploid potato varieties, the methodology is more robust and cost‐effective in monitoring resistances than whole‐genome sequencing and can be used to appraise (trans) gene integrity efficiently. All currently known NB‐LRRs effective against viruses, nematodes and the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans can be tracked with dRenSeq in potato and hitherto unknown polymorphisms have been identified. The methodology provides a means to improve the speed and efficiency of future disease resistance breeding in crops by directing parental and progeny selection towards effective combinations of resistance genes.
Highlights
To sustain a potential world population of 9.1 billion by 2050, food production is required to increase by up to 70% compared to 2005–2007 levels (FAO, 2009)
Following the molecular characterisation of functional disease resistance genes in recent years, methods to track and verify the integrity of multiple genes in varieties are needed for crop improvement through resistance stacking
All currently known NBLRRs effective against viruses, nematodes and the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans can be tracked with Diagnostic resistance gene enrichment sequencing (dRenSeq) in potato and hitherto unknown polymorphisms have been identified
Summary
To sustain a potential world population of 9.1 billion by 2050, food production is required to increase by up to 70% compared to 2005–2007 levels (FAO, 2009). The realisation that resistances against pathogens could be introduced into potato cultivars from wild species (Rudorf et al, 1949) led to the establishment of international germplasm collections These collections have been used to introgress genes such as R1-R11 from Solanum demissum into varieties to control late blight (Black et al, 1953) and are being systematically explored to identify additional novel resistances (Van Weymers et al, 2016; Vossen et al, 2014). Owing to the advances in genomics and genetics technologies, numerous functional plant nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich-repeat resistance genes (NLRs) have been subsequently cloned that control diverse pathogens such as potato virus X (Bendahmane et al, 1999), potato cyst nematodes (van der Vossen et al, 2000) and the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans (Hein et al, 2009). Similar germplasm resources exist for major crops including wheat, rice, and maize (FAO, 2010) and are being explored for beneficial genes including NLRs (Kourelis and van der Hoorn, 2018)
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