Breeding for resistance against Phytophthora nicotianae in Solanaceous crops

Summary

In this research, we used tobacco as a model plant to investigate the molecular interactions between Solanaceae species and Phytophthora. In Chapter 2, we conducted transcriptional profiling of the P. nicotianae–tobacco interaction, identifying nine S gene homologs that were specifically induced during the interaction. In Chapter 3, we developed a growth chamber assay to assess tobacco resistance to P. nicotianae. In Chapter 4, a P. nicotianae–potato root inoculation system was established. Using this system, five potato RNAi lines were inoculated, and two of them, the DMR6 and PMR4 RNAi lines, exhibited enhanced resistance to P. nicotianae. In Chapter 5, tobacco Ntdmr6 mutants were generated and these mutants showed an increased level of resistance to P. nicotianae. Finally, in Chapter 6, we conducted an effectoromics screening on 23 tobacco accessions using 17 elicitins, and revealed that these accessions exhibit varying recognition patterns to these elicitins.