Researchers from Australia's national science agency produced a gene-screening platform to help understand plant pathogen virulence evolution. The novel method may help develop pathogen-resistant crops in the future.
Breeding of crops that are disease-resistant is crucial to boost agricultural productivity. However, this process is affected by the quick evolution of pathogen virulence. To solve this issue, a high-throughput screening option is necessary to analyze and track pathogen virulence evolution.
Scientists from Australia's CSIRO developed a new platform that identifies interacting resistance (R) genes with avirulence (Avr) genes in plants. The platform may be applied to many plant pathogens. "Our advanced screening technology represents a technological leap forward in our ability to study the processes that give plants enduring resistance to disease, enabling new genetic strategies to safeguard crop production and disease management in Australia and abroad," Dr. Peter Dodds, co-lead of the project, said.
(Source: Crop Biotech Update, International Service for Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications. www.isaaa.org)
