NO AND II IN PEA · Resistance mechanisms in pea to Erysiphe pisi and Uromyces pisi: nitric oxide and induced inaccesibility
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2005-05-01 → 2006-04-30
- EU contribution
- €40,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- ERG
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - NO AND II IN PEA (Resistance mechanisms in pea to Erysiphe pisi and Uromyces pisi: nitric oxide and induced inaccesibility)
This project focuses on understanding the basis of inherent resistance to powdery mildew and rust in legumes, particularly in the pea, towards identification of resistance forms for sustainable productions systems. This includes the study of nitric oxide involvement as molecular signal in defence mechanisms and also the understanding of induced inaccessibility and accessibility towards identifying totally novel resistance forms. During this first year we adapted and optimised the protocols and techniques to visualise the NO in legumes through confocal microscopy. Furthermore, a new protocol that allows the in vivo observation of NO simultaneously to H2O2 has been established. In addition to the studies we performed in pea, we have also included the model legume Medicago truncatula in our studies. The reason for this is the high amount of molecular information present in data bases that will be extremely useful for our molecular (transcriptomic and proteomic) studies in legumes. We already had Medicago lines with the resistance to rust characterised. However, as far as we know no such identification and characterisation of resistance against powdery mildew has been performed before in M. truncatula. We have assessed macro and microscopically a collection consisting of with 319 accessions provided by USDA. Twelve accessions showed resistance due either to papilla formation, hypersensitive response, or postpenetration mechanisms. Furthermore in the data bases we found 2 ESTs in M. truncatula with high homology to Arabidopsis AtNOS1, the only nitric oxide synthase gene identified in plants. We have partially amplified the cDNA from our plants for future expression studies. Currently we are carrying out the experiments aimed at altering the NO and AOS status in the cells to determine their effect in resistance.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Legumes, particularly pea, are valuable sources of human/animal food. However their yield and quality is constrained by diseases. This project aims to characterise novel disease resistance mechanisms in pea (Pisum sativum) to powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) and rust (Uromyces pisi) that can be devastating in regions of pea production. I will investigate inherent resistance and Induced Inaccesibility (II) and Accessibility (IA) to disease. At the cellular level, II and IA describe situations where early pat hogen attacks increase resistance or susceptibility, respectively, to later attacks. II is race non-specific, effective and persistent. Biochemical approaches and studies of differentially expressed gene candidates and proteins will provide insights into t he molecular basis of intra- and intercellular communication within and between tissues. This may reveal novel mechanisms of disease resistance for exploitation through plant breeding. As part of the project, we propose to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide in pea-powdery mildew and rust interaction dissecting its role as signalling molecule not only in inherent disease resistance but also in induced responses. Nitric oxide is emerging as a major signal in plant-pathogen interactions and there is need for spatio-temporal analyses of its role in economically important crop/pathogen interactions. Altogether this project offers a breakthrough in our understanding of the pathogenic interaction between pea and one of the most important constraints on productivity and quality. This should prove of great benefit in the current situation where most single gene controlled resistances to pathogens have been negated by evolution of pathogenic virulence. This has led to increasing reliance on fungicides that are expensive, difficult to apply and may pose threats to the environment and the consumer. There is an urgent need for novel and more durable forms of resistance to control disease effectively and safely.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MADRIDCoordinatorSpain
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union