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Submitted to: Potato Association of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 3/23/2012 Publication Date: 8/13/2012 Citation: Halterman, D.A. 2012. Prospects for advanced late blight resistance breeding in potato [abstract]. Potato Association of America Proceedings. Paper No. 026. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The potato late blight pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, is able to rapidly evolve to overcome resistance genes. The pathogen accomplishes this by secreting an arsenal of proteins, termed effectors, that function to modify host cells. Although hundreds of candidate effectors have been identified in P. infestans, their roles in pathogenicity or virulence remains basically unknown. The potato RB gene, derived from the wild species Solanum bulbocastanum, confers resistance to most P. infestans strains through recognition of members of the pathogen effector family IPI-O. In turn, variants of this family have evolved to suppress RB resistance through direct interaction with the protein. Molecular analysis of the effector and R protein identified amino acids that determine resistance activation and suppression and are being used to develop or identify RB gene variants that can avoid suppression by P. infestans effectors, potentially leading to more durable resistance. |