Spinach Downy Mildew Resistance via Alpha-WOLF 15 Allele

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spinach varieties are vulnerable to multiple races of Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae, leading to significant challenges in maintaining resistance and productivity due to the pathogen's ability to break existing resistance mechanisms, necessitating the development of new resistance genes.

Innovation Solution

Identification and utilization of the alpha-WOLF 15 allele, which encodes a CC-NBS-LRR protein with specific motifs, providing resistance to several downy mildew races by conferring complete or intermediate resistance when present in spinach plants, and the use of specific primers for amplifying the LRR domain to determine the allele's presence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing resistance mechanisms are used in spinach varieties, then initial resistance to Peronospora is provided, but the pathogen breaks these resistance mechanisms over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance durabilityVSAvoidresistance duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the genetic parameter of the spinach plant by introducing a specific allele (e.g., alpha-WOLF 15) with distinct sequence characteristics that confer resistance to multiple Peronospora races. This parameter change in the resistance gene enables durable resistance that does not break down over time as existing resistance mechanisms do.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If new resistance genes are developed to counter emerging Peronospora races, then resistance to current races is achieved, but continuous monitoring and updates are needed as new races emerge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance spectrumVSAvoidtime for resistance updates
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a resistance gene allele that performs multiple functions by providing resistance against multiple Peronospora races simultaneously. The alpha-WOLF 15 allele, for example, confers resistance to races Pfs:1 through Pfs:6 and other emerging races, making a single gene solution universally effective against diverse pathogen strains rather than requiring separate resistance genes for each race.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If molecular markers are used to identify resistance alleles, then breeding efficiency is improved, but specific knowledge of allele sequences is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreeding efficiencyVSAvoidsequence knowledge requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary action by providing the complete sequence information of resistance alleles (such as alpha-WOLF 15 and beta-WOLF 15) in advance. This pre-provided sequence data enables the development of molecular markers and diagnostic tools before breeding programs begin, allowing breeders to efficiently identify and select resistant plants without needing to discover sequences during the breeding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10638688B2Peronospora resistance in spinacia oleracea
Publication Date: 2020.05.05 RIJK ZWAAN ZAADTEELT & ZAADHANDEL BV

AI summary

The present invention relates to an allele designated alpha-WOLF 15 which confers resistance to at least one Peronospora farinosa f sp. spinaciae race, wherein the protein encoded by said allele is a CC-NB S-LRR protein that comprises in its amino acid sequence: a) the motif “MAEIGYSVC” (SEQ ID NO: 13) at its N-terminus; and b) the motif “KWMCLR” (SEQ ID NO: 14); and wherein the LRR domain of the protein has in order of increased preference at least 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID No:10. The allele when homozygously present in a spinach plant confers complete resistance to Peronospora farinosa f sp. spinaciae races Pfs:1, Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4 and Pfs: 5, Pfs:6, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs:11, Pfs:12, Pfs:13, Pfs:14, Pfs:15, and isolates UA1014, and confers intermediate resistance to Pfs:10, and does not confer resistance to Pfs:7 and Pfs: 16.