Norwich gene hunters tackle crop diseases

Scientists in Norwich are collaborating in studies* of some of the most economically damaging organisms that infect crops worldwide, such as the parasitic water fungus that causes powdery mildew and the water molds that cause late blight in potatoes and tomatoes and downy mildew in cruciferous vegetables and other crops. "We have been studying the late blight pathogen for a while," said Professor Sophien Kamoun, Head of the Sainsbury Laboratory on the Norwich Research Park. "In separate research we are trialling plant genes that mediate blight resistance, while in this latest study we have learnt more about how the pathogen itself evolved and which genes we should focus on to tackle it."

“Our aim is to develop resistance to genes from the stable, slowly evolving region of the pathogen’s genome. This should be more disruptive to the pathogen’s ability to evolve new races." Studies on genome sequences of Downy mildew and Powdery mildew revealed that the parasites had adapted to live solely on their plant host and also carried large numbers of effector proteins, which invade plant cells to suppress plant immunity. "A major focus of our research is sustainable agriculture," said John Innes Centre director Professor Dale Sanders. "We need to help breeders and farmers generate good quality food and other agricultural products in an environmentally sustainable way. One way of doing so will be to develop crops that are resistant to pathogens and pests. Such crops will reduce the need to spray pesticides and fungicides and they will give better yields, as less will be lost to disease." *paper references Science, Dec 2010. John Innes Centre.