The present invention relates to an
allele designated alpha-WOLF 24 which confers resistance to at least one
Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinacea race, wherein the
protein encoded by said
allele is a CC-NBS-LRR
protein that comprises in its
amino acid sequence: a) the motif “MAEIGYSVC” (SEQ ID NO: 1) at its N-terminus; and b) the motif “KWMCLR” (SEQ ID NO: 2); and wherein the LRR domain of the
protein has in order of increased preference at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 98.2%, 98.5%, 98.8%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO: 10. The
allele when present in a
spinach plant confers complete resistance to at least
Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinacea race Pfs: 1, Pfs: 2, Pfs: 5, Pfs: 6, Pfs: 7, Pfs: 9, Pfs: 11, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 17, and does not confer resistance to
downy mildew race Pfs: 16.