Lettuce Plant V10 Gene for Broad-Spectrum Downy Mildew Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lettuce cultivars face rapid development of new Bremia lactucae races that overcome disease resistance, leading to significant crop losses, and current fungicides lose effectiveness over time, necessitating a broad-spectrum resistance gene to combat downy mildew.
Innovation Solution
Introduction of the V10 resistance gene, encoding a protein with a TIR domain and LRR regions, which provides dominant and broad-spectrum resistance to Bremia lactucae races Bl:16 to Bl:37, and can be combined with other resistance genes to enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing lettuce cultivars with resistance to downy mildew are used, then disease resistance is provided, but the pathogen rapidly mutates to break down the resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the V10 resistance gene into lettuce cultivars before pathogen exposure, providing preemptive broad-spectrum resistance against multiple Bremia lactucae races (Bl:16 to Bl:37). This preliminary genetic equipment ensures durability by anticipating pathogen variability rather than relying on single-race resistance that breaks down over time
Solution Approach 2:
The V10 resistance gene provides universal protection against a wide spectrum of Bremia lactucae races simultaneously, rather than targeting a single race. This multi-functional resistance mechanism addresses the contradiction by making the resistance effective across multiple pathogen variants, thereby extending its duration of effectiveness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fungicides are used to control B. lactucae, then disease control is achieved, but the pathogen becomes immune to the chemicals over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical fungicide application with a biological solution - the V10 resistance gene embedded in the plant's genome. This substitution eliminates the reliability problem of fungicide resistance by using a genetic mechanism that the pathogen cannot overcome through mutation, as the resistance is constitutively expressed rather than selectively pressured
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameter from external chemical application to internal genetic expression. The V10 gene alters the plant's biochemical parameters to produce resistance proteins that interfere with pathogen infection mechanisms, providing reliable control that does not depend on external chemical inputs subject to pathogen adaptation
3Reliability
If multiple resistance genes are combined through introgression, then broad-spectrum resistance is enhanced, but linkage drag reduces yield and seed production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential V10 resistance gene from donor material and introduces it into the lettuce cultivar without bringing along linked genetic elements. This precise extraction and transfer method achieves broad-spectrum resistance while eliminating the linkage drag that would otherwise reduce yield and seed production
Solution Approach 2:
The resistance trait is segmented into a discrete, transferable genetic unit (the V10 gene) that can be independently introduced through transformation. This segmentation allows the resistance function to be separated from other genetic material, enabling breeders to achieve broad-spectrum resistance without the negative effects of linkage drag on productivity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lettuce plant that is resistant to downy mildew, more specifically to a lettuce plant that comprises a resistance gene that confers broad spectrum resistance to oomycetes in lettuce, more specifically B. lactucae. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a resistance gene and a method for obtaining a lettuce plant that is resistant to downy mildew, wherein the method comprises the step of introducing said resistance gene into a lettuce plant.