Lr/Yr548 NLR Gene Transfer for Wheat Rust Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wheat plants are susceptible to devastating rust diseases like leaf rust and stripe rust, causing significant yield losses, and existing resistance genes from the primary wheat gene pool are becoming exhausted due to virulent pathogen races, necessitating new resistance genes from the secondary gene pool.

Innovation Solution

Introduction of a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NLR) gene, designated Lr/Yr548, from Aegilops longissima into wheat plants, which enhances tolerance and resistance to both leaf rust and stripe rust diseases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If resistance genes are sourced from the primary wheat gene pool, then breeding programs can utilize existing resistance, but the gene pool becomes exhausted and virulent pathogen races overcome existing resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoidgene pool diversity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the wheat resistance gene pool into primary and secondary pools, systematically exploiting the secondary pool (Aegilops species) to discover novel resistance genes that have not been previously utilized in wheat breeding programs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from utilizing only the primary wheat gene pool to incorporating genes from wild relatives in the secondary gene pool, effectively adding a new dimension of genetic diversity to wheat breeding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If resistance genes are transferred from Aegilops species to wheat, then new disease resistance is achieved, but the diploid homoeologous genomes complicate the gene transfer process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoidgene transfer complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs chromosomal segment transfer as an intermediary mechanism to bridge the genetic gap between Aegilops species and wheat, facilitating the transfer of resistance genes while managing the complexity of diploid homoeologous genomes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention focuses on transferring specific chromosomal segments containing resistance genes rather than entire genomes, applying local quality changes to introduce resistance traits while maintaining the overall genomic stability of wheat

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional breeding methods are used to control rust diseases, then economic and environmentally safe control is achieved, but yield losses continue due to virulent pathogen races

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreeding efficiencyVSAvoidwheat yield

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary identification and characterization of resistance genes from Aegilops species before integrating them into wheat breeding programs, allowing for the pre-preparation of resistant germplasm that can rapidly respond to emerging pathogen races

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250382628A1Rust disease resistance genes and use thereof

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 RAMOT AT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to polynucleotides which, when expressed in a Triticeae plant cell, particularly wheat, barley or rye plant cells confer or enhance resistance or tolerance towards leaf rust disease and/or stripe rust disease, and to Triticeae plants comprising the polynucleotides that are tolerant or resistant to the rust diseases, as well as to methods of producing same and of identifying resistant plants.