Functional analysis of potato genes involved in quantitative resistance to Phytophthora infestans

Mol Biol Rep. 2013 Feb;40(2):957-67. doi: 10.1007/s11033-012-2137-3. Epub 2012 Dec 9.

Abstract

The most significant threat to potato production worldwide is the late blight disease, which is caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Based on previous cDNA microarrays and cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis, 63 candidate genes that are expected to contribute to developing a durable resistance to late blight were selected for further functional analysis. We performed virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to these candidate genes on both Nicotiana benthamiana and potato, subsequently inoculated detached leaves and assessed the resistance level. Ten genes decreased the resistance to P. infestans after VIGS treatment. Among those, a lipoxygenase (LOX; EC 1.13.11.12) and a suberization-associated anionic peroxidase affected the resistance in both N. benthamiana and potato. Our results identify genes that may play a role in quantitative resistance mechanisms to late blight.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens
  • Disease Resistance / genetics*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Lipoxygenase / genetics
  • Lipoxygenase / physiology
  • Molecular Sequence Annotation
  • Nicotiana / genetics
  • Nicotiana / microbiology
  • Peroxidases / genetics
  • Peroxidases / physiology
  • Phytophthora infestans / physiology*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / immunology
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / physiology
  • Plant Viruses / genetics
  • Solanum tuberosum / genetics*
  • Solanum tuberosum / immunology
  • Solanum tuberosum / microbiology

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Peroxidases
  • anionic peroxidase
  • Lipoxygenase